Proportion
[prə'pɔːʃ(ə)n] or [prə'pɔrʃən]
Definition
(noun.) harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design); 'in all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance'- John Ruskin.
(noun.) magnitude or extent; 'a building of vast proportions'.
(noun.) the relation between things (or parts of things) with respect to their comparative quantity, magnitude, or degree; 'an inordinate proportion of the book is given over to quotations'; 'a dry martini has a large proportion of gin'.
(noun.) the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole.
(verb.) adjust in size relative to other things.
(verb.) give pleasant proportions to; 'harmonize a building with those surrounding it'.
Checked by Kathy--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.
(n.) Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as, to be out of proportion.
(n.) The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.
(n.) A part considered comparatively; a share.
(n.) The equality or similarity of ratios, especially of geometrical ratios; or a relation among quantities such that the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth; -- called also geometrical proportion, in distinction from arithmetical proportion, or that in which the difference of the first and second is equal to the difference of the third and fourth.
(n.) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.
(v.) To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing or one part to another; as, to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income.
(v.) To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.
(v.) To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion.
Checked by Leda
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Symmetry, symmetrical relation.[2]. Share, lot, part, portion.
v. a. Adjust (in proper relations), regulate, graduate, put in proportion.
Typed by Brian
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Adaptation, relation, rate, distribution, adjustment, symmetry,interrelationship, uniformity, correlation
ANT:Misproportion, misadjustment, incongruity, disparity, disharmony, disorder,irrelation, disproportion
Checked by Lionel
Definition
n. the relation of one thing to another in regard to magnitude: fitness of parts to each other: symmetrical arrangement: (math.) the identity or equality of ratios: the 'rule of three ' in which three terms are given to find a fourth: equal or just share: (obs.) form figure.—v.t. to adjust: to form symmetrically: to correspond to: to divide into proper shares.—adj. Propor′tionable that may be proportioned: having a proper proportion.—n. Propor′tionableness.—adv. Propor′tionably.—adj. Propor′tional having a due proportion: relating to proportion: (math.) having the same or a constant ratio.—n. (math.) a number or quantity in a proportion.—n. Proportional′ity.—adv. Propor′tionally.—adj. Propor′tionate adjusted according to a proportion: proportional.—v.t. to make proportional: to adjust in proportion.—adv. Propor′tionately.—ns. Propor′tionateness the quality of being adjusted according to settled rates or comparative relation; Propor′tioning adjustment of proportions.—adj. Propor′tionless without proportion or symmetry of parts.—Proportional representation representation in a parliament &c. according to the number of electors in an electoral district.—Compound proportion a proportion between two quantities each of which is the product of two or more those of the first set being in their order proportional to those of the other; In proportion in the degree or measure according; Inverse or Reciprocal proportion an equality of ratio between two quantities and the reciprocals of other two as 6 : 3 = ?: ?
Checked by Aubrey
Examples
- The spoons, forks, and other instruments, were all in the same proportion. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- The proportion of the expense of house-rent to the whole expense of living, is different in the different degrees of fortune. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- But the revenue of all the inhabitants of the country is necessarily in proportion to the value of the annual produce of their land and labour. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- His abilities, in both these respects, are generally in proportion to the extent of his stock, or to the number of people whom it can employ. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The second, those which it can multiply in proportion to the demand. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Their consumption must increase as their mass increases, or rather in a much greater proportion. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The proportion between them, therefore, must remain the same, and cannot well be altered, at least for any considerable time, by any such revolutions. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- The fact that the oxygen of the air is diluted as it were with so large a proportion of nitrogen, prevents fires from sweeping over the world and destroying everything in their path. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Miss Sedley was not of the sunflower sort; and I say it is out of the rules of all proportion to draw a violet of the size of a double dahlia. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- And thus the whole State will grow up in a noble order, and the several classes will receive the proportion of happiness which nature assigns to them. Plato. The Republic.
- In agriculture the raising of grain has extended in the Nineteenth Century to enormous proportions. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- The table stood in the same place, close by the bedside, and on it, in its real proportions and appearance, was the shape so often repeated. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- But the key was an instrument of such gigantic proportions, that before they started Riah proposed to carry it. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- His legs were very robust, but shorter than legs of good proportions should have been. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Chemical analysis shows oleomargarine to have substantially the same constituents and in almost the identical proportions of pure butter. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- The proportions between the bank price, the mint price, and the market price of gold bullion, are nearly the same. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- His features were very regular and, like the proportions of his graceful limbs and body, beautiful in the extreme. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Methought the apartment only was changed, being of different proportions and dimensions. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Thus, there has been initiated the development of a new and important industry whose possible ultimate proportions are beyond the range of present calculation. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- It is not practicable to give a full illustration of the state of the art in typewriters, as it has grown to an industry of large proportions. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- A tax of this kind, when it is proportioned to the trade of the dealer, is finally paid by the consumer, and occasions no oppression to the dealer. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- As we advanced we found a well-proportioned tunnel cut from the solid cliff. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- This patent has at first an authority, proportioned to the present and immediate authority of reason, from which it is derived. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- His daily subsistence would be proportioned to his daily necessities. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- He who hath proportioned and given proper quantities to all things, was not unmindful of this. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- For the tenderness of Joe was so beautifully proportioned to my need, that I was like a child in his hands. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- The produce of every part of the country must be proportioned to the consumption of the neighbourhood. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- His well-proportioned figure was not to be mistaken, for I doubt whether there was another in that assemblage his equal. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- But what a very good-proportioned yard it is! Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- These organs are so proportioned in length to each other that half the stamens in two of the forms stand on a level with the stigma of the third form. Charles Darwin. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
Editor: Stu