Main Entry: anal·o·gy

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈna-lə-jē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural anal·o·gies

Date: 15th century

1 : inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will probably agree in others
2 a : resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike : similarity b : comparison based on such resemblance
3 : correspondence between the members of pairs or sets of linguistic forms that serves as a basis for the creation of another form
4 : correspondence in function between anatomical parts of different structure and origin — compare homology

synonyms see likeness