Meaning & Definition of word "Proportion"
Proportion
/prəˈpɔːr.ʃən/
noun:
- 1. A portion of a whole; a ratio.
- Example: The recipe requires a proportion of flour to sugar that must be precise.
- 2. A part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole.
- Example: The proportion of students who passed the exam was higher this year than last.
- 3. Balanced or harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements.
- Example: The artist achieved a sense of proportion in the painting that made it visually appealing.
verb:
- 1. To make proportionate; to adjust in size or amount.
- Example: The architect will proportion the rooms to ensure they all have adequate space.
- 2. To determine the proportion or ratio of.
- Example: You need to proportion the ingredients carefully for the cake to rise properly.
Etymology
●Middle English: from Old French proportion, from Latin proportio(n-) 'a comparing, relation', from pro- 'forward' + portio 'part, share'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
in proportion:
In relation to something else.
proportionate to:
Corresponding in size or amount to something else.
out of proportion:
Not in correct relation to something else; exaggerated.
Related Words
ratio:
A quantitative relationship between two numbers showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other.
fraction:
A numerical quantity that is not a whole number, representing a part of a whole.