analogous

[ uh-nal-uh-guhs ]
See synonyms for: analogousanalogouslyanalogousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. having analogy; corresponding in some particular: A brain and a computer are analogous.

  2. Biology. corresponding in function, but not evolved from corresponding organs, as the wings of a bee and those of a hummingbird.

Origin of analogous

1
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin analogus, from Greek análogos “proportionate,” equivalent to ana- ana- + lógos “ratio”

Other words for analogous

Opposites for analogous

Other words from analogous

  • a·nal·o·gous·ly, adverb
  • a·nal·o·gous·ness, noun
  • non·a·nal·o·gous, adjective
  • non·a·nal·o·gous·ly, adverb
  • non·a·nal·o·gous·ness, noun
  • un·a·nal·o·gous, adjective
  • un·a·nal·o·gous·ly, adverb
  • un·a·nal·o·gous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with analogous

Words Nearby analogous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use analogous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for analogous

analogous

/ (əˈnæləɡəs) /


adjective
  1. similar or corresponding in some respect

  2. biology (of organs and parts) having the same function but different evolutionary origin: the paddle of a whale and the fin of a fish are analogous Compare homologous (def. 4)

  1. linguistics formed by analogy: an analogous plural

Origin of analogous

1
C17: from Latin analogus, from Greek analogos proportionate, from ana- + logos speech, ratio

usage For analogous

The use of with after analogous should be avoided: swimming has no event that is analogous to (not with) the 100 metres in athletics

Derived forms of analogous

  • analogously, adverb
  • analogousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for analogous

analogous

[ ə-nălə-gəs ]


  1. Similar in function but having different evolutionary origins, as the wings of a butterfly and the wings of a bird.

  2. Similar in chemical properties and differing in chemical structure only with respect to one element or group.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.