proportion

pro|por|tion¹ W2S2 [prəˈpo:ʃən US -ˈpo:r-] n

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1¦(part of something)¦

2¦(relationship)¦

3¦(correct scale)¦

4 proportions

5 out of (all) proportion

6 keep something in proportion

7 sense of proportion

8¦(mathematics)¦

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[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin proportio, from portio; PORTION¹]

1.) [C usually singular also + plural verb British English] ¦(PART OF SOMETHING)¦

a part of a number or amount, considered in relation to the whole

proportion of

▪ The proportion of women graduates has increased in recent years.

▪ Every parent is asked to contribute a proportion of the total cost.

high/large/small etc proportion

▪ The decision affects a significant proportion of the population.

▪ Although the majority of offenders are men, a small proportion - about 5 percent - are women.

2.) ¦(RELATIONSHIP)¦ [U and C]

the relationship between two things in size, amount, importance etc

the proportion of sth to sth

▪ What's the proportion of boys to girls in your class?

in proportion to sth

▪ The rewards you get in this job are in direct proportion to the effort you put in.

3.) ¦(CORRECT SCALE)¦[U]

the correct or most suitable relationship between the size, shape, or position of the different parts of something

▪ Builders must learn about scale and proportion.

in proportion

▪ Reduce the drawing so that all the elements stay in proportion.

in proportion to sth

▪ Her feet are small in proportion to her height.

out of proportion with sth

▪ The porch is out of proportion with (=too big or too small when compared with) the rest of the house.

4.) proportions [plural]

a) the size or importance of something

▪ Try to reduce your tasks to more manageable proportions .

of immense/huge/massive etc proportions

▪ an ecological tragedy of enormous proportions

of epic/heroic/mythic proportions

▪ For most of us, Scott was a hero of mythic proportions.

crisis/epidemic proportions

▪ The flu outbreak has reached epidemic proportions .

b) the relative sizes of the different parts of a building, object etc

of grand/gigantic/generous etc proportions

▪ a building of classic proportions

▪ the elegant proportions of the living room

5.) out of (all) proportion

too big, great, or strong in relation to something

out of (all) proportion to/with

▪ The fear of violent crime has now risen out of all proportion to the actual risk.

get/blow sth out of proportion

(=treat something as more serious than it really is)

▪ Aren't you getting things rather out of proportion?

▪ The whole issue has been blown out of all proportion.

6.) keep sth in proportion

to react to a situation sensibly, and not think that it is worse or more serious than it really is

→↑perspective

▪ Let's keep things in proportion.

7.) sense of proportion

the ability to judge what is most important in a situation

have/keep/lose a sense of proportion

▪ You can protest by all means, but keep a sense of proportion.

8.) ¦(MATHEMATICS)¦[U]

technical equality in the mathematical relationship between two sets of numbers, as in the statement '8 is to 6 as 32 is to 24'

→↑ratio

proportion ²

proportion² v [T usually passive] formal

to put something in a particular relationship with something else according to their relative size, amount, position etc

proportion sth to sth

▪ The amount of damages awarded are proportioned to the degree of injury caused.