proportion — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A quantity of something that is part of the whole amount or number.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   “I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers, the worn-out, passionless men, the enervated matrons of the summer capital,[…]!”

2. Harmonious relation of parts to each other or to the whole.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

3. Proper or equal share.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   Let the women[…]do the same things in their proportions and capacities.

4. The relation of one part to another or to the whole with respect to magnitude, quantity, or degree.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body

   The image of Christ made in Pilate's time after his own proportion.

   More examples (1)

   Formed in the best proportions of her sex.

5. A statement of equality between two ratios.

   Usage

   • Countable

6. The "rule of three", in which three terms are given to find a fourth.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

7. Size.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • in-plural

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again;[…]. Now she had come to look upon the matter in its true proportions, and her anticipation of a possible chance of teaching him a lesson was a pleasure to behold.

   What other television show would feature a gorgeously designed sequence where a horrifically mutated Pierre and Marie Curie, their bodies swollen to Godzilla-like proportions from prolonged exposure to the radiation that would eventually kill them, destroy an Asian city with their bare hands like vengeance-crazed monster-Gods?

Verb

1. To divide into proper shares; to apportion.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   In order to proportion the braking force to the weight carried by a wheel - a matter of special importance in the braking of wagons - variable leverage systems are now being introduced in which the end of one axle spring is linked to a control spring in the change-over valve, so automatically varying the leverage exerted by the brake-rod according to whether the wagon is full or empty.

2. To form symmetrically.

   Usage

   • Transitive

3. To set or render in proportion.

   Usage

   • Transitive

4. To correspond to.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Transitive

Noun

1. the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole

   Broader terms

   quotient

2. magnitude or extent

   Synonyms

   dimension

   Broader terms

   magnitude

   Examples

   a building of vast proportions

3. balance among the parts of something

   Synonyms

   symmetry

   Antonyms

   disproportion

   Broader terms

   balanceequilibriumequipoisecounterbalance

4. the relation between things (or parts of things) with respect to their comparative quantity, magnitude, or degree

   Synonyms

   ratio

   Broader terms

   magnitude relationquantitative relation

   Examples

   an inordinate proportion of the book is given over to quotations

   a dry martini has a large proportion of gin

5. harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design)

   Synonyms

   proportionalitybalance

   Broader terms

   placementarrangement

Verb

1. give pleasant proportions to

   Broader terms

   harmonizeharmonise

   Examples

   red brick with white stone dressings and a beautifully proportioned hall

2. adjust in size relative to other things

   Broader terms

   adjustsetcorrect