Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Homologous

Ho-mol′o-gous

,
Adj.
[Gr. [GREEK] assenting, agreeing; [GREEK] the same + [GREEK] speech, discourse, proportion, [GREEK] to say, speak.]
Having the same relative position, proportion, value, or structure.
Especially:
(a)
(Geom.)
Corresponding in relative position and proportion.
(b)
(Alg.)
Having the same relative proportion or value, as the two antecedents or the two consequents of a proportion.
(c)
(Chem.)
Characterized by homology; belonging to the same type or series; corresponding in composition and properties. See
Homology
, 3.
(d)
(Biol.)
Being of the same typical structure; having like relations to a fundamental type to structure; as, those bones in the hand of man and the fore foot of a horse are homologous that correspond in their structural relations, that is, in their relations to the type structure of the fore limb in vertebrates.
Homologous stimulus
.
(Physiol.)
See under
Stimulus
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Homologous

HOMOL'OGOUS

,
Adj.
[Gr. similar, and proportion.] Proportional to each other; a term in geometry, applied to the corresponding sides and angles of similar figures; as, homologous angles.

Definition 2024


homologous

homologous

English

Adjective

homologous (comparative more homologous, superlative most homologous)

  1. Showing a degree of correspondence or similarity.
  1. (biology) Corresponding to a similar structure in another life form with a common evolutionary origin.
    • 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page 4
      Lobules, homologous in structure, recur again only in the Gondwanalandic families Lepidolaenaceae and Jubulopsidaceae thus in the Lepidolaenineae.
    Flippers and hands are homologous structures.
  2. (chemistry) Belonging to a series of aliphatic organic compounds that differ only by the addition of a CH2group.
  3. (genetics) Having the same morphology as another chromosome.

Usage notes

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations