compare - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

To compare is to look at two things and see how they are similar and different.

People compare all the time. If you look at two products and compare prices, you're looking for the better bargain. It is hard to compare who was the better athlete, Michael Jordan or Billie Jean King, because they played different sports. At a museum, you can compare different paintings. If you like your math teacher better than your history teacher, you're comparing the two. If a TV shows is bad, you could say "it doesn't compare" to your favorite show.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: compare

1	v n	examine and note the similarities or differences of qualities that are comparable
2	v	to form the comparative or superlative form on an adjective or adverb

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: compare

1

v examine and note the similarities or differences of

“John compared his haircut to his friend's”

“We compared notes after we had both seen the movie”

Types:: analogise, analogize
make an analogy; collate
compare critically; of texts

Type of:: analyse, analyze, canvas, canvass, examine, study
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

v consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous

“We can compare the Han dynasty to the Romans”

Synonyms:: equate, liken

Type of:: consider, study
give careful consideration to

v be comparable

“This car does not compare with our line of Mercedes”

Types:: go
be ranked or compare

Type of:: be
have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

n qualities that are comparable

“beyond compare”

Synonyms:: comparability, comparison, equivalence

Type of:: alikeness, likeness, similitude
similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things

2

v to form the comparative or superlative form on an adjective or adverb

Type of:: inflect
change the form of a word in accordance as required by the grammatical rules of the language