proportion

[ pruh-pawr-shuhn, -pohr- ]

/ prəˈpɔr ʃən, -ˈpoʊr- /

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See synonyms for: proportion / proportioned / proportioning / proportions on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

proper relation between things or parts: to have tastes way out of proportion to one's financial means.

relative size or extent.

proportions, dimensions or size: a rock of gigantic proportions.

a portion or part in its relation to the whole: A large proportion of the debt remains.

symmetry, harmony, or balance: an architect with a sense of proportion.

the significance of a thing or event that an objective view reveals: You must try to see these mishaps in proportion.

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.Compare rule of three.

Archaic. analogy; comparison.

verb (used with object)

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

to balance or harmonize the proportions of.

OTHER WORDS FOR proportion

1 comparison.

5 share.

6 distribution, arrangement.

10 regulate, arrange, balance, harmonize.

See synonyms for proportion on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of proportion

1350–1400; Middle English proporcio(u)n from Latin prōportiōn- (stem of prōportiō ) “symmetry, analogy.” See pro-¹, portion

synonym study for proportion

6. See symmetry.

OTHER WORDS FROM proportion

pro·por·tion·er, nounpro·por·tion·less, adjectivemis·pro·por·tion, nounre·pro·por·tion, verb (used with object)

su·per·pro·por·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use proportion in a sentence

The island faces an environmental challenge of huge proportions.
Goodbye, Bahamas. Hello, Havana!|Clive Irving|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To test out a doll he designed to have realistic human proportions, Nickolay Lamm went to a group of second-graders in Pittsburgh.
Pot-Smoking Grannies, Jimmy Fallon Covers U2, and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That corruption, says Stafford Smith, provided the opportunity for a “frame-up of epic proportions.”
Did Pablo Escobar Frame a Millionaire for Murdering Banana-Shipping Money Launderers?|Jacqui Goddard|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In recent years, the problem has grown to epidemic proportions.
Is Weed the Secret to Beating Opiate Addiction?|Tracey Mitchell, Abby Haglage|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Note, Faircloth says “characters' proportions,” not just the female ones.
Full Frontal Disney: Feminism's Nudity Double Standard|Emily Shire|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a decayed house of superb proportions, but of a fashion long passed away.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
The latter-named proportions may in some measure account for "what becomes of the pins?"
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
He threw out his arms, as if trying to indicate the proportions of a great world or of an enormous ocean.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
It not only brought about the instant beginnings of the siege, but its proportions were grossly exaggerated in the public eye.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Here Letty drew the coverlet from the face of the sleeping babe, and displayed his chubby proportions with maternal pride.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie

British Dictionary definitions for proportion

proportion

/ (prəˈpɔːʃən) /

noun

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

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

a part considered with respect to the whole

(plural) dimensions or sizea building of vast proportions

a share, part, or quota

maths a relationship that maintains a constant ratio between two variable quantitiesx increases in direct proportion to y

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

verb (tr)

to adjust in relative amount, size, etc

to cause to be harmonious in relationship of parts

Derived forms of proportion

proportionable, adjectiveproportionability, nounproportionably, adverbproportionment, noun

Word Origin for proportion

C14: from Latin prōportiō (a translation of Greek analogia), from phrase prō portione, literally: for (its, his, one's) portion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for proportion

proportion

[ prə-pôr′shən ]

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with proportion

proportion

see out of proportion.

proportion

OTHER WORDS FOR proportion

Origin of proportion

synonym study for proportion

OTHER WORDS FROM proportion

Words related to proportion

How to use proportion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for proportion

Derived forms of proportion

Word Origin for proportion

Scientific definitions for proportion

Other Idioms and Phrases with proportion