plural homologies
Definition of homology
1
: a similarity often attributable to common origin
… the anthropologist is in the curious position of dealing with … striking homologies not necessarily due to historical contact …— Edward Sapir
2
a
evolutionary biology
: correspondence or similarity in form or function between parts (such as the wing of a bat and the human arm) of different species resulting from modification of a trait possessed by a common ancestor : similarity of traits reflecting common descent and ancestry — compare analogy, homoplasy
b
anatomy
: correspondence in structure between a series of parts (such as vertebrae) in the same individual
3
: similarity of nucleotide or amino acid sequence (as in nucleic acids or proteins)
4
: a branch of the theory of topology concerned with partitioning space into geometric components (such as points, lines, and triangles) and with the study of the number and interrelationships of these components especially by the use of group theory
— called also homology theory
— compare cohomologyKeep scrolling for more
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for homology
The first known use of homology was circa 1656
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