comparative

Pluralcomparatives

1. 1
   adjective

   Having to do with comparing things.

   Like holding two things next to each other to see how they match up.

   The teacher asked for a comparative look at the two poems.

   Her comparative notes lined up the good points of both phones.

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Studying things by comparing them with each other.

   Like learning about two animals by placing them side by side and noting what is the same and what is different.

   He studies comparative religion at college.

   The class used a comparative approach to understand both cultures side by side.

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   The form of an adjective or adverb that compares two things, like 'bigger' or 'faster.'

   Like the word you reach for when one thing beats another: 'taller,' 'faster,' 'older.'

   'Bigger' is the comparative of 'big.'

   To compare two things, use the comparative, such as 'faster.'

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Judged by comparing with something else rather than on its own.

   Like calling a room warm just because it is less cold than outside.

   After the storm, the quiet evening felt like comparative calm.

   They lived in comparative comfort once the money came in.

   Similarrelative

   Oppositeabsolute

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   A word like 'bigger' or 'faster' that compares two things.

   Like the '-er' words ('taller,' 'colder') that show one thing has more of something.

   'Faster' is a comparative.

   When you say 'taller,' you are using a comparative.

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountableplural

   Information you use to compare one thing with another.

   Like checking other prices before deciding if a deal is good.

   The report listed last year's sales as comparatives.

   She gathered comparatives to check whether the new prices were fair.

   Similarcomparable, benchmark

   Note

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