Englishfor English speakers
offset
Verb
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If mathx/math offsets mathy/math, the loss (because) of mathy/math is balanced by mathx/math.
The school will provide limited scholarships to offset the cost of tuition.
Increases in efficiency partially offset the increased costs.
The few problems are more than offset by the relatively large number of successes.
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If you offset mathx/math against mathy/math, you compare of contrast them.
All this solid colour is offset by the tiny yellow green flowers.
offset
Noun
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An offset is something that balances (the loss of) something else.
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(technical) A particular way of printing where the ink moves from surface A to B and then from B to the final C.
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The image produced by this kind of printing.
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An offset is the distance that something moves away from where it is supposed to be or where it was.
ratio
Noun
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A ratio is the comparison in size or number between two things. It is written mathx:y/math and read mathx/math to mathy/math. It is the same as the fraction math\frac {x} {y}/math.
The ratio of men's jobs to women's is 8 to 1.
But Germany now has one of the highest ratios of spending to GDP in the European Community.
The low student/teacher ratio makes this a great school.