compare

1. (transitive) To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things ["to compare X with Y"]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it similar to Y or different from Y.Examples: "Compare the tiger's coloration with that of the zebra."; "You can't compare my problems and yours."; "Sophia broke down here. Even at this moment she was subconsciously comparing her rendering of the part of the forlorn bride with Miss Marie Lohr's."Synonyms: set againsttransitive

2. (transitive) To declare two things to be similar in some respect ["to compare X to Y"].Examples: "Astronomers have compared comets to dirty snowballs."; "Solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators and counsellors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it."; "And wordy attacks against slavery drew sneers from observers which were not altogether undeserved. The authors were compared to doctors who offered to a patient nothing more than invectives against the disease which consumed him."Synonyms: likentransitive

3. (transitive, grammar) To form the three degrees of comparison of (an adjective).Examples: "We compare "good" as "good", "better", "best"."transitive

4. (intransitive) To be similar (often used in the negative).Examples: "A sapling and a fully-grown oak tree do not compare."; "Shall pack-horses[…]compare with Caesar's?"intransitive

5. (obsolete) To get; to obtain.Examples: "To fill his bags, and richesse to compare."obsolete