homogeneous

[hoh-muh-jee-nee-uh s, -jeen-yuh s, hom-uh-] /ˌhoʊ məˈdʒi ni əs, -ˈdʒin yəs, ˌhɒm ə-/
adjective
1.
composed of parts or elements that are all of the same kind; not heterogeneous:
a homogeneous population.
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.
Origin
1635-45; < Medieval Latin homogeneus, equivalent to homogene- (stem of Greek homogenḗs of the same kind; see homo-, gene) + -us -ous
Related forms
homogeneously, adverb
nonhomogeneous, adjective
nonhomogeneously, adverb
nonhomogeneousness, noun
unhomogeneous, adjective
unhomogeneously, adverb
unhomogeneousness, noun
Can be confused
heterogeneous, heterogenous, homogeneous, homogenous.
homogeneous, homogenous.
Synonyms
1. unvarying, unmixed, alike, similar, identical.
Examples from the web for homogeneous
  • Seattle was too homogeneous, too provincial and too rainy for his taste, he said.
  • Suburban developments were settled by mostly white families, giving suburbs a homogeneous reputation.
  • King's nostalgic prescriptions imply a static, homogeneous student body that simply does not exist in most schools today.
  • The overseas market is not a homogeneous market.
  • Academics have become a homogeneous group of group-thinkers.
  • Toronto, once a homogeneous city of staid British tradition, now counts more than 40 percent of the people as foreign born.
  • The students tend to be privileged, fratty, and relatively homogeneous.
  • Fashion has done much to transform the globe into a homogeneous market.
  • Real estate agents say the city is less homogeneous than most Westchester municipalites.
  • The designers like the idea of having mismatched dishes and flatware for an eclectic, rather than a homogeneous, look.
British Dictionary definitions for homogeneous

homogeneous

/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 x² + 2xy + y²
  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
Also (for senses 1–4) homogenous
Derived Forms
homogeneity (ˌhəʊməʊdʒɪˈniːɪtɪ; ˌhɒm-) noun
homogeneously, adverb
homogeneousness, noun
Contemporary definitions for homogeneous
adjective

in chemistry, involving substances in the same phase (solid, liquid, or gas)

Examples

A homogeneous substance is salt, NaCl.

Word Origin and History for homogeneous
adj.

1640s, from Medieval Latin homogeneus, from Greek homogenes "of the same kind," from homos "same" (see homo- (1)) + genos "kind, gender, race, stock" (see genus). Earlier in this sense was homogeneal (c.1600).

homogeneous in Medicine

homogeneous ho·mo·ge·ne·ous (hō'mə-jē'nē-əs, -jēn'yəs)
adj.

  1. Of the same or similar nature or kind.

  2. Uniform in structure or composition throughout, as of a chemical mixture.

homogeneous in Technology

(Or "homogenous") Of uniform nature, similar in kind.
1. In the context of distributed systems, middleware makes heterogeneous systems appear as a homogeneous entity. For example see: interoperable network.
Constrast heterogeneous.
2. (Of a polynomial) containing terms of the same degree with respect to all the variables, as in x^2 + 2xy + y^2.
3. (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.
4. (of an equation) containing a homogeneous function made equal to 0.
(1999-05-06)