English
equal
Pronunciation Adjective

equal

  1. (not comparable) The same in all respects.
    Equal conditions should produce equal results.
    All men are created equal.
    • They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me.
  2. (mathematics, not comparable) Exactly identical, having the same value.
    All right angles are equal.
  3. (obsolete) Fair, impartial.
    • Bible, Book of Ezekiel xviii. 29
      Are not my ways equal?
    • Thee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem.
  4. (comparable) Adequate; sufficiently capable or qualified.
    This test is pretty tough, but I think I'm equal to it.
    • 1881, Jane Austen, Emma (novel), [http://books.google.com/books?id=EBkGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA311&dq=%22more+equal%22+date:0-1932 page 311]
      her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged.
    • The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English.
    • It is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your merit.
    • […] whose voice an equal messenger / Conveyed thy meaning mild.
  5. (obsolete) Not variable; equable; uniform; even.
    an equal movement
    • an equal temper
  6. (music) Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; not mixed.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Verb

equal (equals, present participle equalling; past and past participle equalled)

  1. (mathematics) To be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.
    Two plus two equals four.
  2. (transitive) To make equivalent to; to cause to match.
    David equaled the water levels of the bottles, so they now both contain exactly 1 liter.
  3. (informal) To have as its consequence.
    Losing this deal equals losing your job.
    Might does not equal right.
Synonyms Translations Translations Noun

equal (plural equals)

  1. A person or thing of equal status to others.
    We're all equals here.
    This beer has no equal.
    • Those who were once his equals envy and defame him.
  2. (obsolete) State of being equal; equality.
Synonyms
  • (person or thing of equal status to others) peer
Related terms Translations

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