Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The state or quality of resembling, especially similarity in appearance or in external or superficial details.
  • noun Something that resembles another; a likeness or semblance.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or property of resembling or being like; likeness; similarity either of external form or of qualities.
  • noun Something similar; a similitude; a point or detail of likeness; a representation; an image; semblance.
  • noun Likelihood; probability.
  • noun A simile.
  • noun Look; regard; show of affection.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of resembling; likeness; similitude; similarity.
  • noun That which resembles, or is similar; a representation; a likeness.
  • noun obsolete A comparison; a simile.
  • noun obsolete Probability; verisimilitude.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The quality or state of resembling; likeness; similitude; similarity.
  • noun That which resembles, or is similar; a representation; a likeness.
  • noun A comparison; a simile.
  • noun Probability; verisimilitude.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun similarity in appearance or external or superficial details

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Darwinian theory, the resemblance must have come about gradually, and in its beginnings it cannot have profited the mimic _as a resemblance_.

    Birds of the Indian Hills Douglas Dewar 1916

  • Now the nature of the material evidence is plainly this, that the resemblance of camels to deer, oxen, etc., in chewing the cud, justifies us in believing that they have a further resemblance in feeding on herbs; in other words, we assume that _resemblance is a ground of inference_.

    Logic Deductive and Inductive Carveth Read 1889

  • But a word resemblance is still broken if any one letter in the word differs.

    THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH RICHARD DAWKINS 2009

  • But a word resemblance is still broken if any one letter in the word differs.

    THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH RICHARD DAWKINS 2009

  • But the resemblance is there, you have to admit that.

    It's Tim Kaine's 50th Birthday Today 2008

  • Theodore Brandeis 'roseleaf skin, and over, and above all these, weaving in and out through the whole, an expression or cast -- a vague, undefinable thing which we call a resemblance -- that could only have come from the woman of the picture, Theodore Brandeis' wife, Olga.

    Fanny Herself Edna Ferber 1926

  • You know, Lucy, you have often told me I should certainly have been in love with you if I had not been your brother: this resemblance is a proof you were right.

    The History of Emily Montague 1769

  • And even there the resemblance is only slight, since a trustee in the U.S. actually does control the trust.

    Additional thoughts on the restricted zones 2009

  • And even there the resemblance is only slight, since a trustee in the U.S. actually does control the trust.

    Additional thoughts on the restricted zones 2009

  • I am a woman of both “black” (Ugandan) and “white” (Norwegian) heritage, but my physical resemblance is refered to as black.

    Claudia Schiffer Pregnant 2010

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