liken

«liken» in Mova's school dictionary: like another; to compare them — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

verb (liken, likens, likened, likening)

meaning for a pupil

1) To say that one thing is like another; to compare them. tree →

2) Used with «to»: «liken A to B» means say A is similar to B. tree →

sense in the lessons

In English lessons about figurative language, writers liken things to other things (similes and metaphors): a poet likens the moon to a silver coin. In history and science, people liken the heart to a pump or the brain to a computer. Phrases: liken something to something, often likened to.

examples

• The poet likens the sea to a hungry dog. tree →
• Scientists liken the heart to a pump. tree →
• Many people liken the city to a giant ant nest. tree →
• He was often likened to his famous grandfather. tree →
• Our teacher likened the brain to a busy library. tree →
• The story likens growing up to climbing a mountain. tree →
• I wouldn't liken a cat to a dog; they are so different. tree →

note

Regular verb: likened, likening. Always «liken X to Y», not «with». A bit formal; in speech say «compare to» or «say it's like». Do not confuse with «like» (enjoy) or «likely».

In the corpora

• To whom then will ye liken God?
• To whom then will ye liken Me, that I should be equal? saith the Holy One.
• To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?
• For who in the skies can be compared unto the LORD, who among the sons of might can be likened unto the LORD,
• What shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem?

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «liken» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.