compare

com|pare¹ W1S1 [kəmˈpeə US -ˈper] v

[Date: 1400-1500; : French; Origin: comparer, from Latin comparare, from compar 'like', from com- ( COM-) + par 'equal']

1.) [T]

to examine or judge two or more things in order to show how they are similar to or different from each other

→↑comparison, comparative ↑comparative

▪ The report compares the different types of home computer available.

compare sth/sb with sth/sb

▪ The police compared the suspect's fingerprints with those found at the crime scene.

compare sth/sb to sth/sb

▪ Davies' style of writing has been compared to Dickens'.

compare and contrast

(=an expression used when telling students to write about the things that are similar or different in works of literature or art)

▪ Compare and contrast the main characters of these two novels.

2.) compared to/with sth

used when considering the size, quality, or amount of something in relation to something similar

▪ a 20% reduction in burglary compared with last year

▪ Compared to our small flat, Bill's house seemed like a palace.

3.)

to be better or worse than something else

compare (favourably/unfavourably) with sth

▪ The quality of English wines can now compare with wines from Germany.

▪ How does life in Britain compare with life in the States?

▪ The imported fabric is 30% cheaper and compares favourably (=is as good) in quality.

4.) sth doesn't/can't compare (with sth)

if something does not compare with something else, it is not as good, large etc

▪ The rides at the fair just can't compare with the rides at Disneyland.

5.) compare notes (with sb) [i]informal to talk to someone in order to find out if their experience of something is the same as yours

▪ Leading scientists got together in Paris to compare notes on current research.

compare ²

compare² n

beyond/without compare

literary a quality that is beyond compare is the best of its kind

▪ a beauty and an elegance beyond compare