proportion
noun uk/prəˈpɔː.ʃən/ us/prəˈpɔːr.ʃən/
(AMOUNT)
C1 [ C, + sing/pl verb ]部分;份额
the number or amount of a group or part of something when compared to the whole
Children make up a large proportion of the world's population. 孩子占世界人口的很大一部分。
A higher proportion of men are willing to share household responsibilities than used to be the case. 现在愿意共同承担家务的男人比例比过去要高。
The report shows that poor families spend a larger proportion of their income on food. 报告显示，贫困家庭食物支出所占其收入比例更大了。
C2 [ S or U ]比率，比例
the number, amount, or level of one thing when compared to another
The proportion of women to men at my college was about five to one. 我所在大学的男女比例大约为1：5。
The chart shows how weight increases in proportion to height (= the increase in weight depends on the increase in height). 图表表明了体重是如何随身高成正比例上升的。
The level of crime in an area is almost always in direct proportion to the number of unemployed. 一个地区的犯罪率几乎总是与失业人数成正比。
- More examples
- What proportion of people who are HIV-positive go on to develop AIDS?
- As people accumulate more wealth, they tend to spend a greater proportion of their incomes.
- Their generosity was in inverse proportion to their income .
- He might be small but he's perfectly in proportion.
- Hispanics make up a large proportion of the population of Miami.
(SIZE)
C2 [ C or U ]（某物各个组成部分或一物与另一物之间的）相称，协调，均衡，匀称
the correct or most attractive relationship between the size of different parts of the same thing or between one thing and another
Your legs are very much in proportion to (= the right size for) the rest of your body. 你的腿和你身体的其他部位比例非常协调。
His feet seem very small in proportion to his body. 和他的身体相比，他的脚似乎显得太小了。
My head was much nearer the camera than the rest of me so I'm all out of proportion. 我的脑袋比身体其他部位离相机近得多，所以照片里我显得比例失调了。
proportions[ plural ] 尺寸;大小;形状;程度
the size, shape, or level of something
a building of elegant proportions 造型优美的建筑物
I'm not very good at drawing people - I can never get the proportions right. 我画人物不太在行——我从来都拿不准比例。
humorous She's a woman of generous proportions (= she is fat). 她是个胖女人。
A small worry in the back of your mind can for no apparent reason assume/take on massive proportions in the middle of the night. 内心深处的一点点忧虑在深夜里便会莫名其妙地无限放大。
(IMPORTANCE)
[ U ]重要性，严重性
used in a number of phrases to mean importance and seriousness
You have to keep a sense of proportion (= the ability to understand what is important and what is not). 你得会辨别轻重缓急。
I think a certain amount of worry about work is very natural, but you've got got to keep it in proportion (= judge correctly its seriousness). 我认为对工作有点担心是很自然的，但不要过分担心。
Idiom
blow something out of proportionidiom 对（事情或问题）小题大做
to treat a particular event or problem far too seriously
It's ridiculous - we have a tiny disagreement and you blow the whole thing out of proportion! 太可笑了——我们只是有点小分歧，而你却把整件事闹得这么大！
Of course, when the papers get hold of a story, it's blown out of all proportion. 当然了，一旦报纸知道了一则传闻，就会大肆渲染一番。