comparativenoun [ C ]
uk/kəmˈpær.ə.tɪv/us/kəmˈper.ə.t̬ɪv/specializedA2 the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses a difference in amount, number, degree, or quality:
"Fatter" is the comparative of "fat".
"More difficult" is the comparative of "difficult".
More examples
- 'Older' is the comparative, not the superlative, of 'old'.
- Not all adjectives form the comparative by adding 'er' - some are irregular.
- For homework we have a list of comparatives and superlatives to learn.
- Yes, the comparative of 'quick' is 'quicker', but the comparative of the adverb 'quickly' is 'more quickly'.
- This dictionary shows comparatives and superlatives if they are irregular, like 'better' (the comparative of 'good').
- 'Better' is the comparative of 'good'.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: grammatical terms
- ablative
- apposition
- attributive
- collocate
- declension
- decline
- dependent clause
- double negative
- grammar
- grammarian
- grammatical
- independent clause
- indirect object
- inflect
- interrogative
- modifier
- plurality
- qualify
- reflexive
- superlative
See more results »
comparativeadjective
uk/kəmˈpær.ə.tɪv/us/kəmˈper.ə.t̬ɪv/comparative adjective (EXAMINING DIFFERENCES)
C1 comparing different things:
She's carrying out a comparative study of health in inner cities and rural areas.
comparative comfort/freedom/silence, etc.
C2 a situation that is comfortable, free, silent, etc. when compared to another situation or what is normal:
I enjoyed the comparative calm of his flat after the busy office.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Comparing and contrasting
- against
- analogy
- antithesis
- as against idiom
- balance
- balance sth against sth
- benchmark
- compare
- comparison
- competitive
- contrast
- contrastive
- gold standard
- perspective
- relative
- relatively
- set
- simile
- stack up
- vis-à-vis
See more results »
comparative adjective (WORD FORM)
specialized language relating to the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses a difference in amount, number, degree, or quality:
The comparative form of "slow" is "slower".
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: grammatical terms
- ablative
- apposition
- attributive
- collocate
- declension
- decline
- dependent clause
- double negative
- grammar
- grammarian
- grammatical
- independent clause
- indirect object
- inflect
- interrogative
- modifier
- plurality
- qualify
- reflexive
- superlative
See more results »