homogeneous

[ hoh-muh-jee-nee-uhs, -jeen-yuhs, hom-uh- ]

adjective

1. composed of parts or elements that are all of the same kind; not heterogeneous:

   a homogeneous population.

   Synonyms: unvarying, identical, similar, alike, unmixed

2. of the same kind or nature; essentially alike.
3. Mathematics.
   1. having a common property throughout:

      a homogeneous solid figure.

   2. having all terms of the same degree:

      a homogeneous equation.

   3. relating to a function of several variables that becomes multiplied by some power of a constant when each variable is multiplied by that constant: x 2 y 3 is a homogeneous expression of degree 5.
   4. relating to a differential equation in which a linear combination of derivatives is set equal to zero.

homogeneous

/ ˌhɒm-; ˌhəʊməʊdʒɪˈniːɪtɪ; ˌhəʊməˈdʒiːnɪəs; ˌhɒm- /

adjective

1. composed of similar or identical parts or elements
2. of uniform nature
3. similar in kind or nature
4. having a constant property, such as density, throughout
5. maths
   1. (of a polynomial) containing terms of the same degree with respect to all the variables, as in x ² + 2 xy + y ²
   2. (of a function) containing a set of variables such that when each is multiplied by a constant, this constant can be eliminated without altering the value of the function, as in cos x / y + x / y
   3. (of an equation) containing a homogeneous function made equal to 0
6. chem of, composed of, or concerned with a single phase Compare heterogeneous

Derived Forms

• ˌhomoˈgeneousness, noun
• ˌhomoˈgeneously, adverb
• homogeneity, noun

Other Words From

• homo·gene·ous·ly adverb
• nonho·mo·gene·ous adjective
• nonho·mo·gene·ous·ly adverb
• nonho·mo·gene·ous·ness noun
• unho·mo·gene·ous adjective
• unho·mo·gene·ous·ly adverb
• unho·mo·gene·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of homogeneous¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin homogeneus, from homogene-, stem of Greek homogenḗs “of the same kind” ( homo-, gene ) + -us -ous

Example Sentences

Homogeneous: Structure uniform throughout all parts of the colony.

From Project Gutenberg

Homogeneous orange light gives the sensation of a blend of red and yellow; but there is nothing like this in the auditory sphere.

From Project Gutenberg

I have said that this law of Homogeneous Counter-relativity has not been recognised by logicians.

From Project Gutenberg

Homogeneous culture, however, is of course not the same thing as native culture.

From Project Gutenberg

Homogeneous appearances are grouped into classes, and each class referred to a separate deity, and hence Polytheism.

From Project Gutenberg