homomorphism

or ho·mo·mor·phy

[ hoh-muh-mawr-fiz-uhm, hom-uh- ]

noun

1. Biology. correspondence in form or external appearance but not in type of structure or origin.
2. Botany. possession of perfect flowers of only one kind.
3. Zoology. resemblance between the young and the adult.
4. Mathematics. an into map between two sets that preserves relations between elements.

homomorphism

/ ˌhɒm-; ˌhəʊməʊˈmɔːfɪzəm /

noun

1. biology similarity in form

Derived Forms

• ˌhomoˈmorphic, adjective

Other Words From

• homo·morphous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of homomorphism¹

First recorded in 1865–70; homo- + -morph + -ism

Example Sentences

“There’s a cheap assumption about—whatever, call it a homomorphism between form and content. Here’s a happy song, let’s do happy lyrics. If the lyrics are about sex, the song should sound all nighttime, swampy, can-you-even-handle-how-sexy-this-song-is. But it’s very rare that life itself is like that.”

From The New Yorker