proportional
gb/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/ us/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/
B2
Inglese
~ 8100
Accezioni
0 accezioni
adjective
B2
property
1
corresponding in size or amount
Having a size or amount that changes in the same way as something else.
Schema d'uso:
[something] is proportional to [something]
Errore comune:
Learners often confuse 'proportional' with 'proportionate'. In most modern use, they are interchangeable in this sense, but 'proportional to' is far more common as a set phrase. Learners also sometimes say *'proportional with'* instead of the correct preposition 'proportional to'.
Sinonimi
commensurate (More formal; often used with abstract nouns like 'salary', 'penalty', or 'responsibility'.)
|
corresponding (Emphasizes matching level or degree, not always strict numerical relation.)
Contrari
disproportionate (Emphasizes that the size or amount does not match or is not appropriate in relation to something else.)
|
excessive (Highlights that something is much too large compared with what is appropriate or needed.)
Collocazioni
proportional to
|proportional response
|proportional punishment
|proportional increase
|proportional cost
|proportional share
Temi
general
|measurement
|law
|business
|core_vocabulary
|education
Esempi
- The fine should be proportional to the seriousness of the offense.
- Her workload is not proportional to her salary.
- Emergency measures must be proportional to the level of risk.
- The help each country gives should be proportional to its wealth.
- Media attention was hardly proportional to the actual importance of the story.
Esempi per chi studia
- The price is proportional to the size of the house.
- The punishment must be proportional to the crime.
- Her pay is not proportional to the hours she works.
- The tax is proportional to your income.
- The police used force that was not proportional to the threat.
adjective
technical
B2
relation
2
related by a constant ratio
Describes two numbers or amounts when one is always a fixed times the other number.
Schema d'uso:
[quantity] is proportional to [quantity]
Errore comune:
Learners sometimes say *'proportioned to'* instead of 'proportional to'. They may also confuse 'directly proportional' with 'inversely proportional'; 'directly' means both values move in the same direction, while 'inversely' means one goes up when the other goes down.
Sinonimi
linear (In mathematics, often used when a straight-line relationship shows that two quantities are proportional.)
Contrari
independent (In math and science, describes variables that do not change in relation to each other in a fixed way.)
|
nonlinear (Describes relationships that cannot be expressed as a simple constant ratio between quantities.)
Collocazioni
directly proportional
|inversely proportional
|proportional relationship
|proportional change
|roughly proportional
|strictly proportional
Temi
math
|science
|engineering
|education
Esempi
- In this experiment, the pressure is directly proportional to the temperature.
- The area of a square is proportional to the square of its side length.
- The intensity of the signal is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
- In a simple resistor, the current is proportional to the voltage.
- The graph shows that demand is roughly proportional to income in this range.
Esempi per chi studia
- In this formula, y is proportional to x.
- Speed is proportional to distance when time stays the same.
- The force is directly proportional to the mass.
- The brightness is inversely proportional to the distance.
- The chart shows a proportional relationship between the two values.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
of fonts: variable character widths
Describes a style of text where thin letters like 'i' take less space than wide letters like 'm'.
Schema d'uso:
[something] is a proportional font
Errore comune:
Learners may think 'proportional font' means 'correctly sized font' in a general sense. In computing and design contexts, it specifically refers to variable character widths, not just good or balanced sizing.
Sinonimi
variable-width (Technical term in computing and typography that contrasts with 'fixed-width' or 'monospaced' fonts.)
Contrari
monospaced (Describes fonts where every character has the same width, the opposite of proportional fonts.)
|
fixed-width (Another computing term meaning all characters take up equal horizontal space.)
Collocazioni
proportional font
|proportional typeface
|proportional spacing
|switch to a proportional font
|use proportional fonts
|non-proportional font
Temi
technology
|design
|computing
|communication
Esempi
- Most modern word processors use proportional fonts by default.
- Proportional typefaces are generally easier to read in long paragraphs.
- For programming, many developers prefer monospaced fonts over proportional fonts.
- The logo uses a bold proportional font to create a friendly look.
- On this screen, menu text is displayed in a proportional typeface.
Esempi per chi studia
- This text uses a proportional font.
- In a proportional font, each letter can have a different width.
- A monospaced font is not proportional.
- Proportional fonts look better in books.
- Many websites use proportional typefaces for their main text.
Grammatica
Forma base
proportional
IPA
GB/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/
US/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl/
Sillabe e accento
pro - por - tion - al (4 sillabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (por)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: proportional
Famiglia di parole
Core family
proportion
noun B1
proportionally
adverb C1
Related words
proportionate
adjective
proportionately
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
proportionality
noun C1
Espressioni
inversely proportional to
1/ɪnvˈɚsli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
one increases as the other decreases
Used in math and science to say that when one thing goes up, the other thing goes down in a fixed way, and when one goes down, the other goes up.
Esempi
- The time taken is inversely proportional to the speed.
- Light intensity from a source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.
- The gas volume is inversely proportional to the pressure at constant temperature.
proportional representation
1/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl ɹˌɛpɹɪzɛntˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
voting system matching seats to votes
A political voting system where parties win seats in a parliament in the same share as the number of votes they get.
Esempi
- Many European countries use proportional representation in their elections.
- Supporters say proportional representation leads to fairer results.
- The party is campaigning to replace the current system with proportional representation.
proportional to
1/pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
in a matching amount compared with
Used to say that when one thing becomes bigger or smaller, another thing becomes bigger or smaller in a similar way.
Esempi
- The bonus is proportional to your performance.
- The risk is proportional to the amount you invest.
- Their support should be proportional to their resources.
directly proportional to
1/dɪɹˈɛktli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
increases or decreases together at a constant ratio
Used in math and science to say that when one thing goes up, the other thing also goes up in a fixed way, and when one goes down, the other also goes down.
Esempi
- In this law, pressure is directly proportional to temperature.
- The cost is directly proportional to the number of users.
- The current flowing through the resistor is directly proportional to the voltage.
directly proportional to
2/dɪɹˈɛktli pɹəpˈɔɹʃənəl tə/
fixed phrase
technical
changes at same rate as another thing
When one thing changes, another thing changes by the same rate or amount in the same direction.
Esempi
- The cost is directly proportional to the amount you buy.
- In physics, acceleration is directly proportional to force.