analogy

noun

anal·o·gy ə-ˈna-lə-jē How to pronounce analogy (audio)

plural analogies

: a comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect

: resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike : similarity

: inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will probably agree in others

: correspondence between the members of pairs or sets of linguistic forms that serves as a basis for the creation of another form

evolutionary biology : correspondence or similarity in form or function between parts (such as the wings of birds and insects) of unrelated or distantly related species that is the result of convergent evolution compare homology, homoplasy

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Digging Into the Most Common Meaning of Analogy

In its most common use, analogy has to do with comparison of things based on those things being alike in some way. For example, one can make or draw an analogy between the seasons of the year and the stages of life. People also reason by way of analogy, asserting, for example, that abandoning a project is like leaving a house partway built. Although an analogy can be summarized quickly, as in these examples, an analogy actually encompasses the comparison or inference itself, and is therefore different from figures of speech, like metaphors and similes, which are forms of expression.

Some tests ask you to identify analogies, finding the second of a pair that has the same relationship as a completed pair. Analogy tests often look like this:

ice : cold :: steel : ____

a. hard b. loud c. fresh d. small

Because the relationship between ice and cold is that coldness is a quality of ice, the word that goes with steel is hard, since hardness is a quality of steel.

The word analogy (which comes from analogous) traces back by way of Latin to a Greek word meaning "proportionate." That word has a root in the Greek word logos, meaning "reason."

Example Sentences

He does, though, suffer from the occupational deformation of international relations specialists: an enthusiasm for ransacking the past in search of precedents, analogies, patterns, and cycles that might explain the present and forecast the future.

Tony Judt, New York Book Review, 10 Apr. 2003 People who do this call themselves "white-hat" hackers—good people who show other people their vulnerabilities. Take the following analogy: I've designed a great new lock pick, and I'm going to give this great new gadget away to show everyone that the typical door lock is ineffective against my new pick.

John C. Dvorak, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2000 It has often been said that movie stars are the royalty of America. (The better analogy, really, is that the royals are the movie stars of Britain.)

Neal Gabler, Life: The Movie, 1998 Parts of the far-infrared sky look like colonies of spiders gone mad. The fine structure seen there is called cirrus, by analogy with filamentary clouds on Earth.

Virginia Trimble et al., Sky & Telescope, January 1995

Recent Examples on the Web There was a great analogy of being a kid in school really trying but getting a C+.

Ryan Ignasiak, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Brandon Bolden has a simple analogy to compare Josh McDaniels the head coach and Josh McDaniels the offensive coordinator.

Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 And in the midst of a beef between the football and basketball coaches, Stoops deployed a baseball analogy, seemingly to take a shot at the advantage gap between his program and Calipari’s.

Brett Dawson, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2022 And in the midst of a beef between the football and basketball coaches, Stoops deployed a baseball analogy, seemingly to take a shot at the advantage gap between his program and Calipari’s.

Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Aug. 2022 Hougan made an analogy involving the internet, asking whether libel and hate speech should be banned by the internet itself, or handled at the user and application layer instead.

Taylor Locke, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2022 As an analogy: the axel is considered one of the toughest and most spectacular stunts in figure skating.

Michael Peres, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2022 Carbin made an interesting analogy regarding long-range forecast unreliability.

Jennifer Gray, CNN, 15 Aug. 2022 Some analogy might be found in the world of privacy legislation, where heavy fragmentation has Big Tech begging for a federal approach.

David Meyer, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English analogie, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin analogia "ratio, proportion, correspondence in the inflection and derivation of words, the use of this correspondence in word derivation," borrowed from Greek analogía "proportion, relation, correspondence in the inflection and derivation of words," from análogos "proportionate, conformable, analogous" + -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

单词	analogies
释义	analogy noun anal·o·gy ə-ˈna-lə-jē plural analogies 1 a : a comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect b : resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike : similarity 2 : inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will probably agree in others 3 : correspondence between the members of pairs or sets of linguistic forms that serves as a basis for the creation of another form 4 evolutionary biology : correspondence or similarity in form or function between parts (such as the wings of birds and insects) of unrelated or distantly related species that is the result of convergent evolution compare homology, homoplasy Did you know? Digging Into the Most Common Meaning of Analogy In its most common use, analogy has to do with comparison of things based on those things being alike in some way. For example, one can make or draw an analogy between the seasons of the year and the stages of life. People also reason by way of analogy, asserting, for example, that abandoning a project is like leaving a house partway built. Although an analogy can be summarized quickly, as in these examples, an analogy actually encompasses the comparison or inference itself, and is therefore different from figures of speech, like metaphors and similes, which are forms of expression. Some tests ask you to identify analogies, finding the second of a pair that has the same relationship as a completed pair. Analogy tests often look like this: ice : cold :: steel : ____ a. hard b. loud c. fresh d. small Because the relationship between ice and cold is that coldness is a quality of ice, the word that goes with steel is hard, since hardness is a quality of steel. The word analogy (which comes from analogous) traces back by way of Latin to a Greek word meaning "proportionate." That word has a root in the Greek word logos, meaning "reason." Example Sentences He does, though, suffer from the occupational deformation of international relations specialists: an enthusiasm for ransacking the past in search of precedents, analogies, patterns, and cycles that might explain the present and forecast the future. Tony Judt, New York Book Review, 10 Apr. 2003 People who do this call themselves "white-hat" hackers—good people who show other people their vulnerabilities. Take the following analogy: I've designed a great new lock pick, and I'm going to give this great new gadget away to show everyone that the typical door lock is ineffective against my new pick. John C. Dvorak, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2000 It has often been said that movie stars are the royalty of America. (The better analogy, really, is that the royals are the movie stars of Britain.) Neal Gabler, Life: The Movie, 1998 Parts of the far-infrared sky look like colonies of spiders gone mad. The fine structure seen there is called cirrus, by analogy with filamentary clouds on Earth. Virginia Trimble et al., Sky & Telescope, January 1995 Recent Examples on the Web There was a great analogy of being a kid in school really trying but getting a C+. Ryan Ignasiak, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Brandon Bolden has a simple analogy to compare Josh McDaniels the head coach and Josh McDaniels the offensive coordinator. Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 And in the midst of a beef between the football and basketball coaches, Stoops deployed a baseball analogy, seemingly to take a shot at the advantage gap between his program and Calipari’s. Brett Dawson, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2022 And in the midst of a beef between the football and basketball coaches, Stoops deployed a baseball analogy, seemingly to take a shot at the advantage gap between his program and Calipari’s. Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 14 Aug. 2022 Hougan made an analogy involving the internet, asking whether libel and hate speech should be banned by the internet itself, or handled at the user and application layer instead. Taylor Locke, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2022 As an analogy: the axel is considered one of the toughest and most spectacular stunts in figure skating. Michael Peres, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2022 Carbin made an interesting analogy regarding long-range forecast unreliability. Jennifer Gray, CNN, 15 Aug. 2022 Some analogy might be found in the world of privacy legislation, where heavy fragmentation has Big Tech begging for a federal approach. David Meyer, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English analogie, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin analogia "ratio, proportion, correspondence in the inflection and derivation of words, the use of this correspondence in word derivation," borrowed from Greek analogía "proportion, relation, correspondence in the inflection and derivation of words," from análogos "proportionate, conformable, analogous" + -ia -y entry 2 First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Phrases Containing analogy draw/make an analogy between draw/make an analogy between Kids Definition analogy noun anal·o·gy ə-ˈna-lə-jē plural analogies 1 : a comparison of things based on ways they are alike He made an analogy between flying and surfing. 2 : the act of comparing things that are alike in some way She explained by analogy. Medical Definition analogy noun anal·o·gy ə-ˈnal-ə-jē plural analogies : functional similarity between anatomical parts without similarity of structure and origin compare homology sense 1 analogies noun plural of analogy 1 as in metaphors a way of describing or explaining one thing by means of describing another with which it shares certain points or qualities The teacher used the analogy of a common pipeline to explain bandwidth on the Internet. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance metaphors devices similes circumlocutions euphemisms idioms conceits dead metaphors code words expressions cranks mixed metaphors catachreses figures of speech 2 as in similarities resemblance in certain points or qualities between two or more otherwise unlike things The study made note of analogies between human and ape social behavior. Synonyms & Similar Words similarities equivalents equals homologies resemblances commonalities counterparts similitudes parallels congruities correspondences common denominators Antonyms & Near Antonyms differences discrepancies incongruities variations divergences modifications changes dissimilarities incongruences deviances See More
随便看	amoebinas amoebioses amoebiosis amoebiosises amoebiosisses amoebobacter amoebocyte amoebocytes Amoebogeniae amoeboid amok amoker amokest amokker amokkest amoks amoldering amole amoles Amomis amomum amomums among among friends among other things

analogy

noun

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Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing analogy

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun