comparative

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 connected with studying things to find out how similar or different they are: comparative linguistics * a comparative study of the educational systems of two countries 2 measured or judged by how similar or different it is to sth else: Then he was living in comparative comfort (= compared with others or with his own life at a previous time). * The company is a comparative newcomer to the software market (= other companies have been in business much longer). 3 (grammar) relating to adjectives or adverbs that express more in amount, degree or quality, for example better, worse, slower and more difficult compareSUPERLATIVE noun (grammar) the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses more in amount, degree or quality: 'Better' is the comparative of 'good' and 'more difficult' is the comparative of 'difficult'. compareSUPERLATIVE