Associations to the word «Proportional»

Wiktionary

PROPORTIONAL, adjective. At a constant ratio (to). Two magnitudes (numbers) are said to be proportional if the second varies in a direct relation arithmetically to the first.
PROPORTIONAL, adjective. In proportion (to), proportionate. More common in US than UK.
PROPORTIONAL ANALOGY, noun. Analogy between four things, in which A is to B as C is to D, or A : B = C : D.
PROPORTIONAL ANALOGY, noun. (linguistics) formation of a new word based on morphological parallelism of three existing words, rather than direct derivation. Examples:
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION, noun. A voting principle aimed at securing a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (usually political parties) obtain in elections, and the percentage of seats they receive in the elected body.

Dictionary definition

PROPORTIONAL, noun. One of the quantities in a mathematical proportion.
PROPORTIONAL, adjective. Properly related in size or degree or other measurable characteristics; usually followed by `to'; "the punishment ought to be proportional to the crime"; "earnings relative to production".
PROPORTIONAL, adjective. Having a constant ratio.

Wise words

Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even the interpretation and use of words involves a process of free creation.
Noam Chomsky