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BrE BrE//ˈreɪʃiəʊ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈreɪʃioʊ//
(pl. ratios) Mathematical terminologyCheck pronunciation: ratio
ratio (of A to B) the relationship between two groups of people or things that is represented by two numbers showing how much larger one group is than the other What is the ratio of men to women in the department? The school has a very high teacher-student ratio. The ratio of applications to available places currently stands at 100:1. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehigh, low, gender, … verb + ratioachieve, have, improve, … ratio + verbimprove, worsen, differ, … prepositionin a/the ratio, ratio between, ratio of something to something, … See full entry See related entries: Mathematical terminology Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally ‘reckoning’, from rat- ‘reckoned’, from the verb reri.Extra examples Staffing ratios were generally better in smaller hospitals. The hospital is trying to improve its staff/patient ratio. The stock’s price-earnings ratio has dropped to 24. They have a high ratio of imports to exports. Waist-to-hip ratios vary according to body type. We mixed the oil and water in a ratio of one to five. the ratio between the amount of time spent on the work and the profit produced the ratio of house prices to incomes the worsening pupil/teacher ratio in our schools The school has a low student-teacher ratio.
