PROPORTIONAL

proportional, relative

(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

proportional

(noun) one of the quantities in a mathematical proportion

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Adjective

proportional (comparative more proportional, superlative most proportional)

(mathematics) 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. Symbol: ∝.

(mostly, US) In proportion (to), proportionate.

Of a typeface, having characters with natural (non-uniform) width (in contrast to monospace typefaces).

Noun

proportional (plural proportionals)

(math, geometry, archaic) A proportion.

Source: Wiktionary

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Pro*por"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. proportionalis: cf. F. proportionnel.]

1. Having a due proportion, or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or degree; as, the parts of an edifice are proportional. Milton.

2. Relating to, or securing, proportion. Hutton. 3. (Math.) Constituting a proportion; having the same, or a constant, ratio; as, proportional quantities; momentum is proportional to quantity of matter. Proportional logarithms, logistic logarithms. See under Logistic.

– Proportional scale, a scale on which are marked parts proportional to the logarithms of the natural numbers; a logarithmic scale.

– Proportional scales, compasses, dividers, etc. (Draughting), instruments used in making copies of drawings, or drawings of objects, on an enlarged or reduced scale.

Pro*por"tion*al, n.

1. (Math.)

Definition: Any number or quantity in a proportion; as, a mean proportional.

2. (Chem.)

Definition: The combining weight or equivalent of an element. [Obs.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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