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Quantity vs Portion - What's the difference?

quantity | portion | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between quantity and portion

is that quantity is a fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating the value of a collection or group of items while portion is an allocated amount.

As a verb portion is

to divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.

quantity

Noun

(quantities)
  • A fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating the value of a collection or group of items.
  • You have to choose between quantity and quality.
  • An indefinite amount of something.
  • Some soap making oils are best as base oils, used in a larger quantity''' in the soap, while other oils are best added in a small '''quantity .
    Olive oil can be used practically in any quantity .
  • A specific measured amount.
  • This bag would normally costs $497.50 for a quantity of 250, at a price of $1.99 per piece.
    Generally it should not be used in a quantity larger than 15 percent.
  • A considerable measure or amount.
  • The Boeing P-26A was the first all-metal monoplane fighter produced in quantity for the U.S. Army Air Corps.
  • (metrology) Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as number and a reference.
  • (mathematics) Indicates that the entire preceding expression is henceforth considered a single object.
  • x plus ''y'' quantity squared equals ''x'' squared plus ''2xy'' plus ''y'' squared .
  • * 2006 , Jerome E. Kaufmann and Karen Schwitters, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: A Combined Approach , p 89
  • For problems 58-67, translate each word phrase into an algebraic expression.
    (...)
    65. x plus 9, the quantity squared
  • * 2005 , R. Mark Sirkin, Statistics For The Social Sciences , p137
  • The second, (\sum x)^2, read "summation of x, quantity squared," tells us to first add up all the xs to get \sum x and then square \sum x to get (\sum x)^2.
  • * 1985 , Serge Lang, Math!: Encounters with High School Students , p54
  • ANN. ra quantity cubed.
    SERGE LANG. That's right, (ra)^3.

    Usage notes

    * In mathematics, used to unambiguously orate mathematical equations; it is extremely rare in print, since there is no need for it there.

    Synonyms

    * Qty

    See also

    * measure * unit

    portion

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An allocated amount.
  • That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
  • One's fate; lot.
  • * Bible, Luke xii. 46
  • The lord of that servant will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
  • * Keble
  • Man's portion is to die and rise again.
  • The part of an estate given or falling to a child or heir; an inheritance.
  • * Bible, Luke xv. 12
  • Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
  • A wife's fortune; a dowry.
  • * 1613 , , V. iv. 31:
  • Commend me to her, and to piece her portion / Tender her this.

    Usage notes

    Relatively formal, compared to the more informal part or more concrete and casual piece. For example, “part of the money” (both informal) but “portion of the proceeds” (both formal).

    Synonyms

    * part * piece

    Derived terms

    * portionless * proportion

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.
  • To endow with a portion or inheritance.
  • Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest. — Alexander Pope.

    Usage notes

    * Particularly used as portion out. * Relatively formal, compared to the more informal divide, divide up, or the casual divvy, divvy up.

    Synonyms

    * divide, divide up * divvy, divvy up

    Derived terms

    * portion off * portion out