equal

[ee-kwuh l] /ˈi kwəl/
adjective
1.
as great as; the same as (often followed by to or with):
The velocity of sound is not equal to that of light.
2.
like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.; of the same rank, ability, merit, etc.:
two students of equal brilliance.
3.
evenly proportioned or balanced:
an equal contest.
4.
uniform in operation or effect:
equal laws.
5.
adequate or sufficient in quantity or degree:
The supply is equal to the demand.
6.
having adequate powers, ability, or means:
He was equal to the task.
7.
level, as a plain.
8.
tranquil or undisturbed:
to confront death with an equal mind.
9.
impartial or equitable.
noun
10.
a person or thing that is equal.
verb (used with object), equaled, equaling or (especially British) equalled, equalling.
11.
to be or become equal to; meet or match:
So far the rate of production doesn't equal the demand. If A equals B and B equals C, then A equals C.
12.
to make or do something equal to:
No matter how he tries, he can't equal his brother's achievements.
13.
Archaic. to make equal; equalize.
14.
Obsolete. to recompense fully.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English (adj.) < Latin aequālis equal, like, equivalent to aequ(us) even, plain, just + -ālis -al1
Related forms
nonequal, adjective, noun
quasi-equal, adjective
quasi-equally, adverb
subequal, adjective
subequally, adverb
Synonyms
2. proportionate, commensurate, coordinate, correspondent. Equal, equivalent, tantamount imply a correspondence between two or more things. Equal indicates a correspondence in all respects or in a particular respect: A dime is equal to 10 cents (that is, in purchasing power). Equivalent indicates a correspondence in one or more respects, but not in all: An egg is said to be the equivalent of a pound of meat in nutritive value. Tantamount, a word of limited application, is used of immaterial things that are equivalent: The prisoner's refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt. 4. even, uniform, regular, unvarying, invariant. 6. suited, fitted. 10. peer, compeer, match, mate, fellow.
Antonyms
2. different. 6. inadequate.
Usage note
1–9. See unique.
Examples from the web for equals
  • We were as close to equals-or contemporaries-as we'd ever be.
  • In short, the more barren, the better-no community equals no community opposition.
  • Bad weather, you see, equals low expectations: all you have to do is show up.
  • Keeping your vehicle in good repair and running at peak performance equals fuel savings.
  • So many of us treat our dogs as equals, or even worse, more than equals.
  • People take up space, and more people equals increased demand for housing.
  • Lynx-eyed toward our equals, and moles to ourselves.
  • As a writer of children's stories, he has few living equals.
  • The knights crowded round them, and with one voice hailed them as equals in glory.
  • They were in many ways well treated, but they were never treated as equals, and they were sometimes treated badly.
British Dictionary definitions for equals

equal

/ˈiːkwəl/
adjective
1.
often foll by to or with. identical in size, quantity, degree, intensity, etc; the same (as)
2.
having identical privileges, rights, status, etc: all men are equal before the law
3.
having uniform effect or application: equal opportunities
4.
evenly balanced or proportioned: the game was equal between the teams
5.
(usually foll by to) having the necessary or adequate strength, ability, means, etc (for): to be equal to one's work
6.
another word for equivalent (sense 3a)
noun
7.
a person or thing equal to another, esp in merit, ability, etc: he has no equal when it comes to boxing
verb equals, equalling, equalled (US) equals, equaling, equaled
8.
(transitive) to be equal to; correspond to; match: my offer equals his
9.
(intransitive) usually foll by out. to become equal or level
10.
(transitive) to make, perform, or do something equal to: to equal the world record
11.
(transitive) (archaic) to make equal
Derived Forms
equally, adverb
Usage note
The use of more equal as in from now on their relationship will be a more equal one is acceptable in modern English usage. Equally is preferred to equally as in sentences such as reassuring the victims is equally important. Just as is preferred to equally as in sentences such as their surprise was just as great as his
Word Origin
C14: from Latin aequālis, from aequus level, of obscure origin
Word Origin and History for equals

equal

adj.

late 14c., from Latin aequalis "uniform, identical, equal," from aequus "level, even, just," of unknown origin. Parallel formation egal (from Old French egal) was in use late 14c.-17c. The noun is recorded from 1570s.

v.

1580s, "compare, liken," also "match, rival," from equal (adj.). Related: Equaled; equaling.

equals in Technology
character
"=", ASCII character 61.
Common names: ITU-T: equals; gets; takes. Rare: quadrathorpe; INTERCAL: half-mesh.
Equals is used in many languages as the assignment operator though earlier languages used ":=" ("becomes equal to") to avoid upsetting mathematicians with statements such as "x = x+1". It is also used in compounds such as "=", "==", "/=", "!=" for various comparison operators and in C's "+=", "*=" etc. which mimic the primitive operations of two-address code.
(1995-03-29)
Idioms and Phrases with equals

equal

In addition to the idioms beginning with equal
equal to
also see: