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.
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.
&fist; 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.
Hear it pronounced