Meaning of analogy in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /əˈnælədʒi/

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  1. Noun

    analogy

    Etymology

    late Middle English (in the sense ‘appropriateness, correspondence’): from French analogie, Latin analogia‘proportion’, from Greek, from analogos‘proportionate’

    Definitions

    1. an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others

    Derived terms

  2. 2. drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect

    Examples

    • « the operation of a computer presents and interesting analogy to the working of the brain »
    • « the models show by analogy how matter is built up »

    Derived terms

  3. 3. the religious belief that between creature and creator no similarity can be found so great but that the dissimilarity is always greater

    Examples

    • « language can point in the right direction but any analogy between God and humans will always be inadequate »

    Antonyms

Famous quotes

  • « Music and politics are in essence about communication. Without over-stretching the analogy I do feel a sense of rhythm is important in getting your message across. »
    Charles Kennedy
  • « Yes, it is a rehearsed show, yes, it was analogy of going to see a play at the theatre, where everything has to be in place and whole things, everything being works, all works together to get the best effect you know it's more like an actor learning a part. »
    John Deacon
  • « We often attribute 'understanding' and other cognitive predicates by metaphor and analogy to cars, adding machines, and other artifacts, but nothing is proved by such attributions. »
    John Searle
  • « Kids are a great analogy. You want your kids to grow up, and you don't want your kids to grow up. You want your kids to become independent of you, but it's also a parent's worst nightmare: That they won't need you. It's like the real tragedy of parenting. »
    Jonathan Safran Foer
  • « Eventually, I believe, current attempts to understand the mind by analogy with man-made computers that can perform superbly some of the same external tasks as conscious beings will be recognized as a gigantic waste of time. »
    Thomas Nagel

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