analogy

Meanings

Plural: analogies

Noun

• an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others
• drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect
  • "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"
• the religious belief that between creature and creator no similarity can be found so great but that the dissimilarity is always greater; any analogy between God and humans will always be inadequate
• A relationship of resemblance or equivalence between two situations, people, or objects, especially when used as a basis for explanation or extrapolation.
• The proportion or the equality of ratios.
• The correspondence of a word or phrase with the genius of a language, as learned from the manner in which its words and phrases are ordinarily formed; similarity of derivative or inflectional processes.

Synonyms

doctrine of analogy

Antonyms

apophatism, cataphatism

Related Words

analogue, example, homology, metaphor, parable, parallelism, simile