analogue

/ˈænəˌlɔɡ/

Other forms: analogues

Think of analogue as referring to something parallel or comparable to something else. For example, a lobster's claw might be considered an analogue to the human hand, as both have similar functions of grabbing and holding. Keep your claws to yourself!

The word analogue (also spelled analog) comes from the Greek ana, meaning "up to," and logos, meaning, among other things, "ratio" and "proportion." In 1946, it entered computer language as an adjective to describe a type of signal that is continuous in amplitude. It has since been largely replaced by a digital signal. Analogues are often used in college entrance exams, i.e., "a is to b as c is to d."

Definitions of analogue

1. noun

   something having the property of being analogous to something else
   synonyms: analog, parallel

   types:

   echo

   a close parallel of a feeling, idea, style, etc.

   type of:

   similarity

   the quality of being similar
2. adjective

   of a circuit or device having an output that is proportional to the input
   “analogue device”

   synonyms: analog, linear

   antonyms:

   digital

   of a circuit or device that represents magnitudes in digits