homology

C2 Topic:Family & Relationships

US /həˈmɑlədʒi/ UK /hɒˈmɒlədʒi/ See IPA manual

Freq #267603

Meanings

1

noun
similarity between structures, genes, or features because they derive from a common evolutionary ancestor

The shared bone pattern in a human arm and a whale flipper is evidence of homology.
2

noun
a structural correspondence or relationship between things occupying equivalent positions

The researcher proposed a homology between the two parts of the model.
3

noun
in algebraic topology, a relation and associated invariant that identifies cycles differing by a boundary

The first homology of a circle records its single independent loop.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · similarity between... evolutionary correspondence

2 noun · a structural correspondence... correspondence

Opposites

analogy

Word family

Forms homologicalhomologies

Derived forms cohomologymicrohomologynonhomology

Related forms homologous homologue analogyhomotopy

Etymology

From Latin homologia, from Greek homologia ("agreement"), formed from homos ("same") and logos ("relation, account"). Biology specialized it for correspondence through common ancestry; mathematics later adopted it for relationships among cycles and boundaries.

Topics

Family & Relationships Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# homology

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /həˈmɑlədʒi/
**IPA (UK):** /hɒˈmɒlədʒi/
**Frequency rank:** 267603

## Meanings
1. similarity between structures, genes, or features because they derive from a common evolutionary ancestor
2. a structural correspondence or relationship between things occupying equivalent positions
3. in algebraic topology, a relation and associated invariant that identifies cycles differing by a boundary

## Examples
- The shared bone pattern in a human arm and a whale flipper is evidence of homology.
- The researcher proposed a homology between the two parts of the model.
- The first homology of a circle records its single independent loop.

## Synonyms
- correspondence
- evolutionary correspondence

## Antonyms
- analogy

## Derived Forms
- cohomology
- microhomology
- nonhomology

## Related Forms
- homologous
- homologue
- analogy
- homotopy

## Etymology
From Latin homologia, from Greek homologia ("agreement"), formed from homos ("same") and logos ("relation, account"). Biology specialized it for correspondence through common ancestry; mathematics later adopted it for relationships among cycles and boundaries.

## Topics
- Family & Relationships
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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