analogy Hear it!

analogy Definition

anal·ogy (ə nal′ə jē)

noun pl. -·gies

  1. similarity in some respects between things otherwise unlike; partial resemblance
  2. the likening of one thing to another on the basis of some similarity between the two
  3. Biol. similarity in function between parts dissimilar in origin and structure, as the wing of a bird and that of an insect
  4. Linguis. the process by which words, constructions, or pronunciations conform to the pattern of other, often unrelated, ones “energize” is formed from “energy” by analogy with “apologize” from “apology”; Old English “handa” became “hands” on analogy with other plurals in -s
  5. Logic an inference from certain admitted resemblances between two or more things to a probable further similarity between them

Etymology: ME & OFr analogie < L analogia < Gr, proportion < analogos, in due ratio < ana-, according to + logos, word, reckoning: see logic

analogy Synonyms

analogy

n.

relationship, similarity, resemblance, parallel; see similarity. See syn. study atlikeness.

analogy Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • draw: You can draw analogy to two people holding the key for the same lock.
  • push: Pushing the analogy further, architecture could be considered an ' operating system ' within which people write their own programs for spatial interaction.
  • extend: I've extended the Indian food analogy even further and come up with the acronym PEPPER.
  • pursue: What was wrong with pursuing the analogy to its proper conclusion, and using green to mark the proper degree of preparedness?
  • borrow: To borrow a business analogy, the NHS has gone from a bull market to a bear market.
  • continue: To continue the building analogy, first you need to include all the ' bricks ' .

Converse of subject

  • describe: Thus 08 has its unique nature as well as finer details described by analogy to all other hexagrams.
  • apply: Although this case concerned arbitration it should be applied by analogy to adjudication.

Adjective modifier

  • ethnographic: There was no way ethnographic analogy could intrude, and no way that my environment could fool me into thinking otherwise.
  • apt: A more apt analogy would be an aquarium or a zoo: a place for special trips.
  • imperfect: In the Biblical perspective, man's love is an imperfect analogy, marred by sin, of God's perfect and self-giving love.
  • false: RESPONSE: Bravo commits the fallacy of false analogy.
  • crude: Granted, this is only a crude analogy, but until you eliminate such possibilities, other suggestions are nothing more than speculation.
  • historical: Are these historical analogies useful in trying to assess America's response to the events of September 11th?

Noun used with modifier

  • sporting: To use a sporting analogy, under an Open Aviation Area, US and EU airlines will all be playing on the same pitch.
  • football: Let's return to the football manager analogy for a second.
  • dream: As always, the dream analogy is very helpful.

Preposition: of

  • faith: According to the analogy of faith we may gather this point: Doct.

Preposition: with

  • scrapie: Spleen and placenta could well have high titres, assuming the analogy with scrapie holds good.
  • evolution: A self-assembling watch is a false analogy with the evolution of an organism.