1. To examine two or more people or things in order to discover similarities and differences between them: "The police compared the forged signature with the one on the original license."
2. To consider or to represent someone or something as similar to another person or thing: "Some scientists compare the human brain to that of a computer."
3. To be equal or similar in quality or standing; especially, to be as good as another person or people.
4. To have a particular relationship with something or someone else: "If you compare this book with that document, you will find that the second presentation is almost a complete copy of the other one."
5. A suggestion that one thing is like another in some significant way; however, unlike in others: "The committee will have to compare the Senate's version of the health bill with the version that was passed by the House of Representatives."