Comparable vs. Comparative

Comparableadjective

(often with to) Able to be compared (to).

‘An elephant is comparable in size to a double-decker bus.’; ‘You can't say that robbing a bank is like pickpocketing. The two are just not comparable.’;

Comparativeadjective

Of or relating to comparison.

Comparableadjective

(often with to) Similar (to); like.

Comparativeadjective

Using comparison as a method of study, or founded on something using it.

‘comparative anatomy’;

Comparableadjective

(mathematics) Constituting a pair in a particular partial order.

‘Six and forty-two are comparable in the divides order, but six and nine are not.’;

Comparativeadjective

Approximated by comparison; relative.

Comparableadjective

(grammar) Said of an adjective that has a comparative and superlative form.

‘"Big" is a comparable adjective, since it can take the forms "bigger" and "biggest"; but "unique" is not comparable, except in disputed, but common, usage.’;

Comparativeadjective

(obsolete) Comparable; bearing comparison.

Comparablenoun

Something suitable for comparison.

Comparativenoun

(grammar) A construction showing a relative quality, in English usually formed by adding more or appending -er. For example, the comparative of green is greener; of evil, more evil.

Comparableadjective

Capable of being compared; worthy of comparison.

‘There is no blessing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend.’;

Comparativenoun

(grammar) A word in the comparative form.

Comparableadjective

able to be compared or worthy of comparison

Comparativenoun

Data used to make a comparison.

Comparableadjective

conforming in every respect;

‘boxes with corresponding dimensions’; ‘the like period of the preceding year’;

Comparativenoun

(obsolete) An equal; a rival; a compeer.

Comparativenoun

(obsolete) One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.

Comparativeadjective

Of or pertaining to comparison.

Comparativeadjective

Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.

Comparativeadjective

Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state.

‘The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold.’; ‘The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top.’;

Comparativeadjective

Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more bright, or less bright.

Comparativenoun

The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as, stronger, wiser, weaker, more stormy, less windy, are all comparatives.

‘In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many.’;

Comparativenoun

An equal; a rival; a compeer.

‘Gerard ever wasHis full comparative.’;

Comparativenoun

One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit.

Comparativenoun

the comparative form of an adjective;

‘`better' is the comparative of `good'’;

Comparativeadjective

relating to or based on or involving comparison;

‘comparative linguistics’;

Comparativeadjective

having significance only in relation to something else;

‘a comparative newcomer’;

Comparativeadjective

measured or judged by estimating the similarity or dissimilarity between one thing and another; relative

‘he returned to the comparative comfort of his own home’;

Comparativeadjective

involving the systematic observation of the similarities or dissimilarities between two or more branches of science or subjects of study

‘comparative religion’;

Comparativeadjective

(of an adjective or adverb) expressing a higher degree of a quality, but not the highest possible (e.g. braver; more fiercely).

Comparativeadjective

(of a clause) involving comparison (e.g. he's not as good as he was).

Comparativenoun

a comparative adjective or adverb.

Comparativenoun

the middle degree of comparison.

Comparative

In general linguistics, the comparative is a syntactic construction that serves to express a comparison between two (or more) entities or groups of entities in quality or degree - see also comparison (grammar) for an overview of comparison, as well as positive and superlative degrees of comparison. The syntax of comparative constructions is poorly understood due to the complexity of the data.