GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Proportion , n. [F., fr. L. proportio; pro before + portio part or share. See Portion.]
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   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.
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   The image of Christ, made after his own proportion.
   Ridley.
   
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   Formed in the best proportions of her sex.
   Sir W. Scott.
   
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   Documents are authentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory.
   Macaulay.
   
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   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.
   
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   The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.
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   Let the women . . . do the same things in their proportions and capacities.
   Jer. Taylor.
   
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   A part considered comparatively; a share.
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   (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.
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   ☞ 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:
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   a:b::c:d, or a:b = c:d, or a/b = c/d.
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   (b) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.
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   Continued proportion, Inverse proportion, etc. See under Continued, Inverse, etc. -- Harmonical proportion 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.
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2.       
   Proportion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proportioned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Proportioning.] [Cf. F. proportionner.  Cf. Proportionate, v.]
   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.
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   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.
   
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   To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.
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   Nature had proportioned her without any fault.
   Sir P. Sidney.
   
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   To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion.
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