Library / English Dictionary

EQUAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: equalled    , equalling   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who is of equal standing with another in a group

Synonyms:

compeer; equal; match; peer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("equal" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "equal"):

associate (a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor)

coeval; contemporary (a person of nearly the same age as another)

gangsta ((Black English) a member of a youth gang)

backup; backup man; fill-in; relief; reliever; stand-in; substitute (someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult))

replacement; successor (a person who follows next in order)

townsman (a person from the same town as yourself)

Holonyms ("equal" is a member of...):

peer group (contemporaries of the same status)

Derivation:

equal (be equal to in quality or ability)

equal (having the same quantity, value, or measure as another)

equate (make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching)

equate (consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task

Example:

he was equal to the task

Synonyms:

adequate; equal

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

competent (adequate, but not outstanding or exceptional)

adequate to; capable; equal to; up to (having the requisite qualities for)

Also:

satisfactory (giving satisfaction)

Attribute:

adequacy; adequateness (the quality of being able to meet a need satisfactorily:)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having the same quantity, value, or measure as another

Example:

all men are equal before the law

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

even; level; tied (of the score in a contest)

quits (on equal terms by payment or requital)

isothermal (of a process or change taking place at constant temperature)

isometric; isometrical (having equal dimensions or measurements)

isoclinal; isoclinic (having equal magnetic inclinations)

isochronal; isochronous (equal in duration or interval)

half-and-half (in equal parts)

even; fifty-fifty (equal in degree or extent or amount; or equally matched or balanced)

equilateral (having all sides or faces equal)

equidistant (the same distance apart at every point)

coordinate (of equal importance, rank, or degree)

coequal (having the same standing before the law)

close; tight ((of a contest or contestants) evenly matched)

equivalent; tantamount (being essentially equal to something)

Also:

comparable (able to be compared or worthy of comparison)

commensurate (corresponding in size or degree or extent)

same (closely similar or comparable in kind or quality or quantity or degree)

Attribute:

equality (the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status)

Antonym:

unequal (poorly balanced or matched in quantity or value or measure)

Derivation:

equal (a person who is of equal standing with another in a group)

equality (the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching

Example:

The company matched the discount policy of its competitors

Synonyms:

equal; equalise; equalize; equate; match

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "equal" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Verb group:

equal; match; rival; touch (be equal to in quality or ability)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "equal"):

homologise; homologize (make homologous)

homogenise; homogenize (cause to become equal or homogeneous as by mixing)

draw; tie (finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc.)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be identical or equivalent to

Example:

One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!

Synonyms:

be; equal

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "equal"):

correspond; equate (be equivalent or parallel, in mathematics)

agree; check; correspond; fit; gibe; jibe; match; tally (be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics)

correspond; represent; stand for (take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to)

translate (be equivalent in effect)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

differ (be different)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be equal to in quality or ability

Example:

Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents

Synonyms:

equal; match; rival; touch

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "equal" is one way to...):

compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Verb group:

equal; equalise; equalize; equate; match (make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

equal (a person who is of equal standing with another in a group)

Credits

 Context examples: 

I could not imagine a man of your habits looking at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a result.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Well, sir, you certainly got equal with me on that.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Kellynch property was good, but not equal to Sir Walter's apprehension of the state required in its possessor.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The imposing effect of this last argument was equal to his wishes.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

A fine blush having succeeded the previous paleness of her face, he was justified in his belief of her equal improvement in health and beauty.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"Well, for cool native impudence and pure innate pride, you haven't your equal," said he.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"If god spares Beth, I'll try to love and serve Him all my life," answered Jo, with equal fervor.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Their manners are not equal to his.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It would take about 300-1,000 viruses lined up side by side to equal the width of a human hair.

(Smartphone microscope detects nanoparticles and viruses, NIH)

These include supporting local, small-scale fisheries and reorienting the global fish trade towards better and more equal distribution of catches.

(Fairer fish trade could fix nutrient deficiencies in coastal countries, SciDev.Net)