1
- being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value（在数量、大小、程度、价值方面）相等的, 相同的：
add equal amounts of water and flour
加入等量的水和面粉
1 litre is roughly equal to 1 quart.
1升约等于1夸脱。
1.1
- (of people) having the same status, rights, or opportunities（人）（地位、权利或机会）平等的。
1.2
- uniform in application or effect; without discrimination on any grounds均等的; 无差别对待的：
a dedicated campaigner for equal rights.
致力于谋求平等权利的活动家。
1.3
- evenly or fairly balanced均衡的; 势均力敌的：
it was hardly an equal contest.
这根本不是一场势均力敌的比赛。
2
- predic.
equal to
having the ability or resources to meet (a challenge)有能力迎接（挑战）的; 胜任的： the players proved equal to the task.
运动员们证明了自己有能力完成这项任务。
- a person or thing considered to be the same as another in status or quality同等的人; 相等物; 匹敌者：
we all treat each other as equals
我们相互间都平等相待
entertainment facilities without equal in the British Isles.
不列颠群岛最好的娱乐设施。
(equalled, equalling; <美> equaled, equaling) with obj.
1- be the same as in number or amount等于, （在数量上）和…相同：
four plus six divided by two equals five
四加六除以二等于五
the total debits should equal the total credits.
借项总金额应该与贷方总金额相等。
1.1
- match or rival in performance or extent比得上, 敌得过：
he equalled the world record of 9.93 seconds.
他平了9.93秒的世界纪录。
1.2
- be equivalent to与…相当, 等同于：
his work is concerned with why private property equals exploitation.
他的著作讲的是： 为什么私有财产与剥削无异。
USAGE
It is widely held that adjectives such as equal and unique should not be modified and that it is incorrect to say more equal or very unique, on the grounds that these are adjectives which refer to a logical or mathematical absolute. For more discussion of this question, see usage at unique.
短语
(the) first among equals
- the person or thing having the highest status in a group居首位的人（或物）。
other （或 all） things being equal
- provided that other factors or circumstances remain the same要是其他因素（或情况）依旧：
it follows that, other things being equal, the price level will rise.
其结果必然是：如果其他情况不变, 价格水平就会上升。
词源
late Middle English: from Latin aequalis, from aequus 'even, level, equal'.