n. | 1. | |
| 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. |
| 2. | Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as, to be out of proportion. |
| 3. | The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot. |
| 4. | A part considered comparatively; a share. |
| 5. | (Math.) 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. |
| 6. | The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.Harmonical 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. |
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v. t. | 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. |
| 2. | To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body. |
| 3. | To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion. |