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pro·por·tion       (prə-pôr'shən, -pōr'-)  Pronunciation Key  n.   A part considered in relation to the whole. A relationship between things or parts of things with respect to comparative magnitude, quantity, or degree: the proper proportion between oil and vinegar in the dressing. A relationship between quantities such that if one varies then another varies in a manner dependent on the first: "We do not always find visible happiness in proportion to visible virtue" (Samuel Johnson). Agreeable or harmonious relation of parts within a whole; balance or symmetry. Dimensions; size. Often used in the plural. Mathematics A statement of equality between two ratios. Four quantities, a, b, c, d, are said to be in proportion if a/b = c/d . tr.v.   pro·por·tioned, pro·por·tion·ing, pro·por·tions To adjust so that proper relations between parts are attained. To form the parts of with balance or symmetry. [Middle English proporcion, from Old French proportion, from Latin prōportiō, prōportiōn-, from prō portiōne, according to (each) part : prō, according to; see pro-1 + portiōne, ablative of portiō, part; see perə-2 in Indo-European roots.] pro·por'tion·a·ble adj., pro·por'tion·a·bly adv., pro·por'tion·er n., pro·por'tion·ment n. Synonyms: These nouns mean aesthetic arrangement marked by proper distribution of elements. Proportion is the agreeable relation of parts within a whole: a house with rooms of gracious proportion. Harmony is the pleasing interaction or appropriate combination of elements: the harmony of your facial features. Symmetry and balance both imply an arrangement of parts on either side of a dividing line, but symmetry frequently emphasizes mirror-image correspondence of parts, while balance often suggests dissimilar parts that offset each other harmoniously: flowers planted in perfect symmetry around the pool. "In all perfectly beautiful objects, there is found the opposition of one part to another, and a reciprocal balance" (John Ruskin).

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
proportion  (n.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

proportion
noun
1.	the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
2.	magnitude or extent; "a building of vast proportions"
3.	balance among the parts of something [syn: symmetry] [ant: disproportion]
4.	the relation between things (or parts of things) with respect to their comparative quantity, magnitude, or degree; "an inordinate proportion of the book is given over to quotations"; "a dry martini has a large proportion of gin"
5.	harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design); "in all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance"- John Ruskin
verb
1.	give pleasant proportions to; "harmonize a building with those surrounding it"
2.	adjust in size relative to other things

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

proportion

see out of proportion.

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

proportion       (prə-pôr'shən)  Pronunciation Key  A statement of equality between two ratios. Four quantities, a, b, c, and d, are said to be in proportion if a/b = c/d .

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Proportion

Pro*por"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. proportio; pro before + portio part or share. See Portion.]

1. The relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.

The image of Christ, made after his own proportion. --Ridley.

Formed in the best proportions of her sex. --Sir W. Scott.

Documents are authentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory. --Macaulay.

2. Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as, to be out of proportion. "Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith." --Rom. xii. 6.

3. The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.

Let the women . . . do the same things in their proportions and capacities. --Jer. Taylor.

4. A part considered comparatively; a share.

5. (Math.) (a) The equality or similarity of ratios, especially of geometrical ratios; or a relation among quantities such that the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth; -- called also geometrical proportion, in distinction from arithmetical proportion, or that in which the difference of the first and second is equal to the difference of the third and fourth.

Note: Proportion in the mathematical sense differs from ratio. Ratio is the relation of two quantities of the same kind, as the ratio of 5 to 10, or the ratio of 8 to 16. Proportion is the sameness or likeness of two such relations. Thus, 5 to 10 as 8 to 16; that is, 5 bears the same relation to 10 as 8 does to 16. Hence, such numbers are said to be in proportion. Proportion is expressed by symbols thus: a:b::c:d, or a:b = c:d, or a/b = c/d. (b) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.

Continued proportion, Inverse proportion, etc. See under Continued, Inverse, etc.

Harmonical, or Musical, proportion, a relation of three or four quantities, such that the first is to the last as the difference between the first two is to the difference between the last two; thus, 2, 3, 6, are in harmonical proportion; for 2 is to 6 as 1 to 3. Thus, 24, 16, 12, 9, are harmonical, for 24:9::8:3.

In proportion, according as; to the degree that. "In proportion as they are metaphysically true, they are morally and politically false." --Burke.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Proportion

Pro*por"tion\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proportioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Proportioning.] [Cf. F. proportionner. Cf. Proportionate, v.]

1. To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing or one part to another; as, to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income.

In the loss of an object we do not proportion our grief to the real value . . . but to the value our fancies set upon it. --Addison.

2. To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.

Nature had proportioned her without any fault. --Sir P. Sidney.

3. To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion.