2 ADJ [ADJ n] A comparative study is a study that involves the comparison of two or more things of the same kind. □ …a comparative study of the dietary practices of people from various regions. □ …a professor of English and comparative literature.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] In grammar, the comparative form of an adjective or adverb shows that something has more of a quality than something else has. For example, 'bigger' is the comparative form of 'big', and 'more quickly' is the comparative form of 'quickly'. Compare superlative . ● N‑COUNT Comparative is also a noun. □ [+ of ] The comparative of 'pretty' is 'prettier'.
com|pare ◆◇◇ /kəmpeə r / (compares , comparing , compared )
1 VERB When you compare things, you consider them and discover the differences or similarities between them. □ [V n] Compare the two illustrations in Fig 60. □ [V n + with ] Was it fair to compare independent schools with state schools? □ [V n + to ] Note how smooth the skin of the upper arm is, then compare it to the skin on the elbow.
2 to compare notes → see note
3 VERB If you compare one person or thing to another, you say that they are like the other person or thing. □ [V n + to/with ] Some commentators compared his work to that of James Joyce. □ [V n + to/with ] I can only compare the experience to falling in love.
4 VERB If one thing compares favourably with another, it is better than the other thing. If it compares unfavourably, it is worse than the other thing. □ [V adv + with ] Our road safety record compares favourably with that of other European countries. □ [V adv] How do the two techniques compare in terms of application?
5 VERB [usu with neg] If you say that something does not compare with something else, you mean that it is much worse. □ [V + with ] The flowers here do not compare with those at home.
6 → see also compared
com|pared ◆◆◇ /kəmpeə r d/
1 PHRASE If you say, for example, that one thing is large or small compared with another or compared to another, you mean that it is larger or smaller than the other thing. □ [+ with ] The room was light and lofty compared with our Tudor ones. □ [+ with ] Columbia was a young city compared to venerable Charleston.
2 PHRASE You talk about one situation or thing compared with another or compared to another when contrasting the two situations or things. □ [V -ed + to ] In 1800 Ireland's population was nine million, compared to Britain's 16 million.
com|pari|son ◆◇◇ /kəmpæ r I sən/ (comparisons )
1 N‑VAR When you make a comparison , you consider two or more things and discover the differences between them. □ [+ of ] …a comparison of the British and German economies. □ [+ between ] Its recommendations are based on detailed comparisons between the public and private sectors. □ There are no previous statistics for comparison.
2 N‑COUNT When you make a comparison , you say that one thing is like another in some way. □ It is demonstrably an unfair comparison. □ [+ of ] The comparison of her life to a sea voyage simplifies her experience.
3 PHRASE If you say, for example, that something is large or small in comparison with , in comparison to , or by comparison with something else, you mean that it is larger or smaller than the other thing. □ The amount of carbon dioxide released by burning coal is small in comparison. □ [+ with ] Those places are modern by comparison with Tresillian. [Also + to ]
4 PHRASE If you say there is no comparison between one thing and another, you mean that you think the first thing is much better than the second, or very different from it. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ between ] There is no comparison between such a player and the ordinary casual participant.
com|part|ment /kəmpɑː r tmənt/ (compartments )
1 N‑COUNT A compartment is one of the separate spaces into which a railway carriage is divided. □ On the way home we shared our first-class compartment with a group of businessmen.
2 N‑COUNT A compartment is one of the separate parts of an object that is used for keeping things in. □ [+ of ] …the secret compartment of my jewel box.
3 → see also glove compartment
com|part|men|tal|ize /kɒ mpɑː r tme ntəla I z/ (compartmentalizes , compartmentalizing , compartmentalized ) in BRIT, also use compartmentalise VERB To compartmentalize something means to divide it into separate sections. □ [V n] Men often compartmentalized their lives and don't mix their personal and professional lives. [Also V n + into ] ● com|part|men|tal|ized ADJ □ …the compartmentalised world of Japanese finance.
com|pass /kʌ mpəs/ (compasses )
1 N‑COUNT A compass is an instrument that you use for finding directions. It has a dial and a magnetic needle that always points to the north. □ We had to rely on a compass and a lot of luck to get here.
2 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Compasses are a hinged V-shaped instrument that you use for drawing circles.