proportion

American  

[pruh-pawr-shuhn, -pohr-] / prəˈpɔr ʃən, -ˈpoʊr- /

noun

1. comparative relation between things or magnitudes as to size, quantity, number, etc.; ratio.

   Synonyms:

   comparison

2. proper relation between things or parts.

   to have tastes way out of proportion to one's financial means.

3. relative size or extent.

4. proportions, dimensions or size.

   a rock of gigantic proportions.

5. a portion or part in its relation to the whole.

   A large proportion of the debt remains.

   Synonyms:

   share

6. symmetry, harmony, or balance.

   an architect with a sense of proportion.

   Synonyms:

   arrangement, distribution

7. the significance of a thing or event that an objective view reveals.

   You must try to see these mishaps in proportion.

8. Mathematics. a relation of four quantities such that the first divided by the second is equal to the third divided by the fourth; the equality of ratios.

9. Archaic. analogy; comparison.

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verb (used with object)

1. to adjust in proper proportion or relation, as to size, quantity, etc.

   Synonyms:

   harmonize, balance, arrange, regulate

2. to balance or harmonize the proportions of.

proportion British  

/ prəˈpɔːʃən /

noun

1. the relationship between different things or parts with respect to comparative size, number, or degree; relative magnitude or extent; ratio

2. the correct or desirable relationship between parts of a whole; balance or symmetry

3. a part considered with respect to the whole

4. (plural) dimensions or size

   a building of vast proportions

5. a share, part, or quota

6. maths a relationship that maintains a constant ratio between two variable quantities

   x increases in direct proportion to y

7. maths a relationship between four numbers or quantities in which the ratio of the first pair equals the ratio of the second pair

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verb

1. to adjust in relative amount, size, etc

2. to cause to be harmonious in relationship of parts

proportion Scientific  

/ prə-pôr′shən /

1. A statement of equality between two ratios. Four quantities, a, b, c, and d, are said to be in proportion if a/b = c/d .

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proportion Idioms  

1. see out of proportion.

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Related Words

See symmetry.

Other Word Forms

• misproportion noun
• proportionability noun
• proportionable adjective
• proportionably adverb
• proportioner noun
• proportionless adjective
• proportionment noun
• reproportion verb (used with object)
• superproportion noun

Etymology

Origin of proportion

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English proporcio(u)n from Latin prōportiōn-, stem of prōportiō “symmetry, analogy”; equivalent to pro- ¹ + portion

Example Sentences

I shook my head, clueless, then stared transfixed at the thing behind them—a wall in graded heights, of proportions I had not even imagined.

From Literature

The proportion has improved little in the past decade.

From BBC

Theoretically, an arbitrager should be able to buy units in the Sprott fund and short a basket of gold and silver in the same proportion as the fund’s holdings, profiting when they converge.

From The Wall Street Journal

Germany has the highest proportion of older workers of any European Union country, official data showed Tuesday, with almost a quarter of those in employment aged between 55 and 64.

From Barron's

Leane Sykes, the council's director of finance, said schools made up a large proportion of the budget so they "cannot be immune" from cutbacks.

From BBC

Related Words

• bulk
• capacity
• dimension
• distribution
• fraction
• magnitude
• percentage
• portion
• rate
• ratio
• scale
• scope
• share
• volume