Meaning & use
relative size
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
the size of something when it is compared with the size of something else.
Grammar: Often used with 'of' or 'to': the relative size of the two planets; small relative to the total.
Patterns
- the relative size of something
- something's relative size to something
- relative to the size of something
The relative size of the two boxes made the smaller one look like a toy.
Scientists measured the relative size of the moon to the Earth.
In the diagram, the relative size of each part is shown by the width of the bar.
noununcountablefigurative
the importance or seriousness of something measured against other things.
Grammar: Used in abstract discussions, often with 'of': the relative size of the problem.
Patterns
- the relative size of something
- relative size in something
We should not ignore the relative size of the risk compared with the benefit.
The relative size of each department's budget became a heated topic.
Common combinations
- the relative size of
- The relative size of the two countries is easy to see on a map.
- relative to its size
- The bird has a very long beak relative to its size.
- compare the relative size
- In the lab, we compared the relative size of the crystals.
- relative size difference
- There is a huge relative size difference between the two stars.
- increase in relative size
- The graph shows an increase in the relative size of the older population.
Synonyms and how they differ
- proportion
- Proportion often means a part compared to a whole, while relative size compares two separate things.
- scale
- Scale is used for the fixed relationship between a model and the real thing, not for a general comparison.
- magnitude
- Magnitude is a more technical word for great size or importance, not for a simple comparison.
Opposites
Word family
- relative adjective
- Compared to something else; not absolute.
- relatively adverb
- In comparison with something else; fairly.
- relativity noun
- The state of being compared, or Einstein's theory.
Commonly confused: relative size or relatively?
relative size vs relatively
Relatively is an adverb meaning 'quite' or 'compared to others', as in 'relatively small'. Relative size is a noun phrase for the comparison itself.
Practice
The graph shows the ______ of the two planets.
Choose one answer.
'Relative size' is the correct noun phrase after 'the'. 'Relatively' is an adverb and cannot modify a noun. 'Relative sizes' would need a plural context, but here we compare two single planets, so the singular is better. 'Size relative' is the wrong word order.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “relative size”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.