verb
    
    -pares; -pared; -paring
    
    [+ obj] :to say that (something) is similar to something else
    
    
    
    
    
    [+ obj] :to look at (two or more things) closely in order to see what is similar or different about them or in order to decide which one is better
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    [no obj] :to be as good or as bad as something else :to be on the same level or in the same category as something else - usually + with or to
    
    
    
    
    
    [no obj] :to seem better or worse in comparison to something else :to be good or bad when measured against something else
    
    
    
    usually + with or to
    
    
    
    
    
    compare apples and/to/with apples
    
    to compare things that are very similar
    
    
    
    compare apples and/to/with oranges
    
    to compare things that are very different
    
    
    
    compared to
    
    or compared with
    
    in relation to (something else) :measured or judged against (something else)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    compare notes
    
    to talk to someone about something that you and that person have each done, experienced, etc.
    
    
    
    
    
    noun
    
    beyond compare
    
    also without compare
    
    better or greater than any other :having no equal