1109 proscenium
argues in favour of something; ADVOCATE: an enthusiastic proponent of yoga → compare OPPONENT
pro·por·tion¹ /prəˈpɔːʃən||ˈpɔːr-/ n 1 [U] the correct relationship between the size, position, and shape of the different parts of a whole: This drawing isn't in proportion; the man is larger than the house. → opposite DISPROPORTION 2 [C;U] the compared relationship between two things in regard to size, amount, importance etc: The proportion of men to women in the population has changed in recent years. | The tax increases in proportion to the amount you earn. | Mix the paint in the proportion of one part of paint to two parts of water. | (fig.) Don't panic about it; try not to lose your sense of proportion. (=ability to judge what is most important) → compare RATIO 3 [C(of)] a part or share, especially when measured and compared with the whole: 'What proportion of your wages do you spend on rent?' 'About a quarter.' | A large/high/increasing proportion of the children come to school by train. 4 [U] tech (in MATHEMATICS) equalness of relationship between two sets of numbers: The statement 'as 6 is to 4, so is 24 to 16' is a statement of proportion. 5 in/out of proportion (not) according to real importance; (not) sensibly: When you're angry you don't always see things in proportion. 6 out of (all) proportion to (much) too great as compared with: The price of this article is out of all proportion to its value. → see also PROPORTIONS
proportion² v [T(to)] fml to make in or put into correct or suitable PROPORTION (1,2): to proportion one's expenditure to one's income | a well-proportioned room
pro·por·tion·al /prəˈpɔːʃənəl||ˈpɔːr-/ adj 1 [(to)] in PROPORTION: The payment he will have to make will be proportional to the amount of damage he has done. 2 concerning PROPORTION → opposite DISPROPORTIONAL —ly adv
pro,portional represen'tation abbrev. PR infml — n [U] a system of voting in elections by which all political parties, small as well as large, are represented in the governing body according to the proportion of votes they receive, rather than having to get more votes than any other party, in each voting area. In Britain, the LIBERAL DEMOCRAT party is strongly in favour of changing to this system. → compare FIRST PAST THE POST
pro·por·tion·ate /prəˈpɔːʃənɪt||ˈpɔːr-/ adj [(to)] in PROPORTION (1,2): You will have to work an extra three days, but there will be a proportionate increase in your pay. → opposite DISPROPORTIONATE —ly adv
pro·por·tions /prəˈpɔːənz||ˈpːr-/ n [P] the size and shape of something: The church is a building of fine proportions. | (humor) Mary finds it difficult to fit her ample proportions into my little car! (=she is rather fat)
propose
pro·pos·al /prəˈpəʊzəl/ n 1 [C;U] a plan or suggestion; (an) act of proposing: The French have put forward a proposal for a joint project. | peace proposals | [+to-v/that] The proposal to close the hospital/that the hospital should be closed was rejected by a large majority. 2 [C] an offer of marriage → compare PROPOSITION; see REFUSE (USAGE)
pro·pose /prəˈpəʊz/ v 1 [T] to put forward for consideration (a possible course of action, a plan to be voted on by a meeting etc); suggest: What do you propose we do? | The company has proposed a new formula for settling the dispute. | I wish to propose Charles Robson for membership of the club. | to propose a motion | [+v-ing/that] I propose delaying our decision until the next meeting/that we delay our decision until the next meeting. → see also SECOND 2 [T] fml to have formed a plan for; intend: We propose an early holiday in the spring. | [+to-v] I propose to go to London on Tuesday. | How do you propose to finance this venture? 3 [(to);T] (usually of a man) to make an offer of (marriage). In Britain and the US it is the custom for a man to propose to a woman. The man is supposed to kneel in front of the woman and ask her to marry him. On the 29th of February (the last day in February in a LEAP YEAR), however, a woman may by custom propose to a man. These customs are not followed as much as they used to be. 4 [T] fml to ask a social gathering to offer (a wish for success, happiness etc) to someone, while raising a glass of wine which is afterwards drunk (usually in the phrases propose a toast/propose someone's health) —poser n
prop·o·si·tion¹ /ˌprɒpəzɪʃən||ˌprɑː-/ n 1 [C] an unproved statement in which an opinion or judgment is expressed 2 [C] a suggested (business) offer, arrangement, or settlement: We made him a proposition: he would join us, and we would support his company. 3 [S] infml a person or situation of the stated type that must be dealt with: We could build a tunnel instead of a bridge, but that's a much more difficult proposition. 4 [C] euph a suggested offer to have sex with someone: He made me a proposition. → compare PROPOSAL 5 [C] tech (in GEOMETRY) a truth that must be proved, or a question to which the answer must be found —al adj
proposition² v [T] infml to make a PROPOSITION¹ (especially 4) to (someone)
Proposition 13 /ˌprɒpəˈzɪʃən θːˈtiːn||ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən θːr-/ also Prop 13 n infml a law made in California in 1978 that reduced taxes on property. It was voted on directly by the people of California instead of being passed by California's state government. It encouraged voters in other US states to vote for similar laws, and it is considered to be the first of many tax cuts introduced by the state and national governments in the US in the 1980s.
pro·pound /prəˈpaʊnd/ v [T] fml to put forward as a question or matter for consideration: to propound a problem/a theory
pro·pri·e·tary /prəˈpraɪətəri||-teri/ adj 1 privately owned or controlled: proprietary brands of toothpaste 2 of or like an owner: Jane has rather a proprietary manner with her boyfriend. 3 proprietary information information about a company's products, methods etc which is only known to people who work for the company
pro·pri·e·ties /prəˈpraɪətiz/ n [the P] fml the accepted rules of proper social behaviour: to observe the proprieties
pro·pri·e·tor /prəˈpraɪətə/, pro·pri·e·tress /prəˈpraɪətrs/ fem. — n an owner of a business, an invention etc: newspaper proprietors (=people who own the businesses that produce newspapers) | I've written a complaint to the proprietor of the hotel. —ial /ˌprəpraɪəˈtɔːriəl/ adj; proprietorial rights —ially adv
pro·pri·e·ty /prəˈpraɪəti/ n [U] fml 1 correctness of social or moral behaviour, especially between men and women or between people of different social ranks, age etc: to behave with complete propriety 2 rightness or reasonableness: I doubt the propriety of making a public statement before we have studied the official reports. → see also IMPROPRIETY
pro·pul·sion /prəˈpʌlʃən/ n [U] tech the force that PROPELS (=drives forward) something, especially a vehicle: This aircraft works by jet propulsion. (=has JET engines) —sive /prəˈpʌlsɪv/ adj: propulsive force
pro ra·ta /ˌprəʊ ˈrɑːtə||ˈreɪtə/ adj, adv tech calculated according to the rate, fair share etc, of each: a pro rata increase
pro·rate /prəʊˈreɪt/ v [T] AmE to calculate (a charge, price etc) according to a larger amount divided into parts: Your rent will be prorated from the 21st of the month, since that's when you moved in.
pro·rogue /prəʊˈrəʊg, prə-/ v [T] tech to bring to an end a set of meetings (of a parliament) until a stated day —rogation /ˌprərəˈgeɪʃən||ˌprəʊrəʊ-/ n [C;U]
pro·sa·ic /prəʊˈzeɪ·ɪk, prə-/ adj 1 dull; uninteresting: a prosaic job/speech 2 lacking feeling and imagination: He's too prosaic to think of sending me flowers. —ally /kli/ adv
pros and cons /ˌprəz ən ˈkɒnz||ˈkɑːnz/ n [the P] the reasons for and against something: to consider all the pros and cons of a matter before reaching a decision
pro·sce·ni·um /prəˈsiːniəm, prəʊ-/ n 1 the front arch of a theatre stage, where a curtain may be lowered 2 the part of a stage that comes forward beyond this