What is an analogy?
An analogy is a comparison of relationship that exist in two different pair of things, objects or ideas, to show how two things are similar for explanation or clarification. Although the things compared are physically different, the analogy identifies how they are figuratively similar.
Following are the types of analogies
- Part to Whole
- Definition
- Defining Characteristics
- Class and Member
- Antonyms
- Antonym Variants
- Synonyms
- Synonym Variants
- Degree of Intensity
- Function
- Manner
- A is Sign of B
- Worker and Article Created
- Worker and Tool
- Worker and Workplace
- Tool and Its Action
- Cause and Effect
- Sex
- Age
- Symbol and Quality it represents
1. Part to Whole:
- PAGE: BOOK
A page is part of a book.
- GILL: FISH
Gills are part of a fish.
- SHARD: POTTERY
A shard is a fragment of pottery.
2. Definition:
- PATRON: SUPPORT
A patron by definition supports.
- REFUGE: SHELTER
A refuge (place of asylum) by definition shelters.
- HAGGLER: BARGAIN
A haggler, a person who argues over prices by definition bargains
3. Defining Characteristics:
- NEST: BIRD
A nest is defined as a home for birds.
- TIGER: CARNIVOROUS
A tiger is defined as a carnivorous or meat-eating animal.
- APIARY: BEE
An apiary is defined as a home for bees,
4. Class and Member:
- SQUIRREL: RODENT
Squirrel is an example of rodent.
- BALLAD: SONG
Ballad is a specific kind of song.
- SONNET: POEM
A sonnet is a specific kind of poem
5. Antonyms:
Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning. Both words belong to the same part of speech.
- VIRTUE: VICE
Virtue is the opposite of vice.
- WAX: WANE
Wax, to grow larger, and wane, to dwindle, are opposites.
- ANARCHY: ORDER
Anarchy is the opposite of order
6. Antonym Variants:
In an Antonym Variant, the words are not strictly antonyms; their meanings, however, are opposed. Take the adjective “ruthless”. A strict antonyms for the adjective ruthless would be the adjective compassionate. But an Antonym Variant analogy has the noun compassion. It looks like this:
- RUTHLESS: COMPASSION
Ruthless means lacking in compassion.
- INEXACT: ACCURACY
Inexact means lacking in accuracy.
- NERVOUS: POISE
Nervous means lacking in poise.
7. Synonyms:
Synonyms are words that have the same meaning. Both words belong to the same part of speech.
- INDUSTRIOUS: HARDWORKING
Industrious means hard working.
- MUDDY: UNCLEAR
Muddy means unclear.
- GRANDIOSE: MAGNIFICENT
Grandiose means magnificent.
8. Synonym Variants:
In a Synonyms Variant, the words are not strictly synonyms; their meanings, however, are similar. Take the adjective “dauntless”. A strict synonym for the adjective dauntless would be the adjective courageous but a Synonym Variant analogy has the noun courage. It looks like this:
- DAUNTLESS: COURAGE
Someone dauntless possess courage.
- WILLFUL: UNRULINESS
Willful means exhibiting unruliness.
- VERBOSE: WORDINESS
Someone verbose is wordy; he or she exhibits wordiness.
9. Degree of Intensity:
- WARM: HOT
Warm is less extreme than hot.
- TOSS: HURL
Toss is less extreme than hurl
- FLURRY: BLIZZARD
A flurry or shower of snow is less extreme than a blizzard
10. Function:
- PEN: WRITE
The function of pen is to write.
- ASYLUM: REFUGE
The function of asylum is to provide refuge or protection.
- KNIFE: CUT
The function of knife is to cut.
11. Manner:
- SIMPER: SMILE
Simper is to smile in a coy and silly way.
- MUMBLE: SPEAK
To mumble is to speak indistinctly.
- STRAINED: WIT
Wit that is strained is forced in manner.
12. A is Sign of B:
- YAWN: BOREDOM
Yawn is a sign of boredom.
- HUG: AFFECTION
A hug is sign of affection.
- BLUSH: DISCOMFITURE
A blush signifies discomfiture or embarrassment.
13. Worker and Article Created:
- POET: LYRIC
A poet creates a lyric.
- ARCHITECT: BLUEPRINT
An architect designs a blueprint.
- MASON: WALL
A mason builds a wall.
14. Worker and Tool:
- SCALPEL: SURGEON
A surgeon uses a scalpel.
- PAINTER: BRUSH
A painter uses a brush.
- CARPENTER: SAW
A carpenter uses a saw.
15. Worker and Workplace:
- PROFESSOR: CLASSROOM
A professor works in classroom.
- FARMER: FIELD
A farmer works in field.
- SCULPTOR: ATELIER
A sculptor works in an atelier or studio.
16. Tool and Its Action:
- SAW: CUT
A saw is a tool used to cut.
- DRILL: BORE
A drill is a tool used to bore holes.
- CROWBAR: PRY
A crowbar is a tool used to pry things apart.
17. Cause and Effect:
- RACE: FATIGUE
A race causes fatigue
- SOPORIFIC: SLEEPINESS
A soporific (sleep-including medicine or drug) causes sleepiness.
18. Sex:
- DOE: STAG
A doe is a female deer; a stag, a male deer.
- FILLY: HORSE
A Filly is a female (horse)
A horse is a male (horse)
19. Age:
- BOY: MAN
A boy is a young man.
- COLT: STALLION
A colt is a young stallion.
20. Symbol and Quality it represents:
- DOVE: PEACE
A dove is the symbol of peace.
- FOX: CUNNING
A fox is the symbol of cunning