equal

e|qual¹ W2S1 [ˈi:kwəl] adj

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1¦(same)¦

2¦(same rights/chances)¦

3 be equal to something

4 on equal terms/on an equal footing

5 all (other) things being equal

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[Date: 1300-1400; : Latin; Origin: aequalis, from aequus 'level, equal']

1.) ¦(SAME)¦

the same in size, number, amount, value etc as something else

→↑equivalent

equal number/amount (of sth)

▪ Both candidates received an equal number of votes.

(of) equal value/importance

▪ They believe that all work is of equal value.

equal in size/length/height etc

▪ The two towns are roughly equal in size.

of equal size/length/height etc

equal to

▪ The rent was equal to half his monthly income.

2.) ¦(SAME RIGHTS/CHANCES)¦

having the same rights, opportunities etc as everyone else, whatever your race, religion, or sex

▪ Our constitution states that all men are equal.

▪ Our education system should provide equal opportunities for all children.

▪ The government is committed to achieving equal rights for women.

3.) be equal to sth

a) to have the ability to deal with a problem, piece of work etc successfully

= ↑be up to

▪ I'm not sure he's equal to the task .

▪ Are you equal to this challenge ?

b) to be as good as something else

▪ The architecture here is equal to any in the world.

4.) on equal terms/on an equal footing

with neither side having any advantage over the other

▪ This law will help small businesses to compete on equal terms with large multinational corporations.

5.) all (other) things being equal

spoken if things are as you normally expect them to be

▪ All things being equal, a small car will cost less than a larger one.

equal ²

equal² S2 v past tense and past participle equalled present participle equalling BrE past tense and past participle equaled present participle equaling AmE

1.) [linking verb]

to be exactly the same in size, number, or amount as something else

▪ Two plus two equals four.

▪ Prices should become more stable when supply equals demand.

2.) [T]

to be as good as something else, or get to the same standard as someone or something else

▪ Thompson equalled the world record.

3.) be equalled (only) by sth

used to say that two things are as strong or as important as each other

▪ Her distaste for books was equalled only by her dislike of people.

4.) [T]

to produce a particular result or effect

▪ A highly-trained workforce equals high productivity.

equal ³

equal³ S3 n

1.) someone who is as important, intelligent etc as you are, or who has the same rights and opportunities as you do

▪ He treats all his staff as equals.

▪ a friendship between equals

equal in

▪ She wasn't his equal in intelligence.

2.) be the equal of sb/sth

to be as good as someone or something else

▪ The company proved to be the equal of its US rivals.

3.) be without equal also have no equal

formal to be better than everyone or everything else of the same type

▪ His paintings are without equal.