analog
gb/ˈænəlˌɔɡ/ us/ˈænəlˌɔɡ/
B2
English
~ 5200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
using continuous, non-digital signals
Describes technology or signals that change smoothly in a natural, continuous way, not in separate digital steps of 0 and 1.
Usage pattern:
analog [device] / analog [signal] / analog [technology]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'analog' with 'analogy' or 'analogous'. 'Analog' here is about technology and signals. Also, some learners think 'analog' only means 'old', but it specifically means continuous, non-digital technology, even if it is new or high quality.
Synonyms
non-digital (Informal and broader; simply means not digital, while 'analog' more specifically refers to continuous physical representation of information.)
Antonyms
digital (Digital uses discrete numeric values like 0 and 1, the opposite of continuous analog representation.)
Collocations
analog signal
|analog device
|analog circuit
|analog clock
|analog recording
|analog television
Themes
technology
|science
|communication
Examples
- Old analog televisions received signals over the air and showed static when the reception was weak.
- Many musicians still prefer the warm sound of analog synthesizers over digital ones.
- The lab uses analog sensors to measure tiny changes in temperature.
- You can tell it is an analog clock because it has hands instead of numbers changing on a screen.
- The engineer converted the analog signal to a digital one for processing by the computer.
Learner examples
- My first camera was an analog camera that used film.
- This old radio plays analog signals only.
- The company is changing from analog phones to digital phones.
- An analog clock has moving hands for the time.
- We used an analog device to record the music on tape.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
2
thing that is comparable to another
A thing that is very much like another thing and can help you compare or explain it.
Usage pattern:
[something] is an analog of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often say 'analogy' when they mean 'analog'. An 'analog' is the similar thing itself (a noun), while an 'analogy' is the comparison or explanation using that similarity.
Synonyms
equivalent (Suggests something that is almost the same in value or function; 'analog' stresses similarity used for comparison, not complete sameness.)
Antonyms
antithesis (Refers to something that is the direct opposite, while an analog shares key similarities.)
Collocations
close analog
|modern analog
|natural analog
|historical analog
|find an analog
|direct analog
Themes
thinking
|science
|academic
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Is there a modern analog of this ancient practice?
- For many people, email is the closest analog to traditional letters.
- The movie is often described as a science-fiction analog to classic Westerns.
- Researchers looked for an animal analog to human language learning.
- Her experience in theater provided a useful analog for leading business presentations.
Learner examples
- Some people say a blog is an analog of a personal diary.
- Teachers sometimes use games as an analog of real life situations.
- In this story, the small town is an analog of the whole country.
- Science fiction can be an analog of real social problems.
- The model city is an analog of the real city, but smaller.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
chemically similar compound
A chemical that is almost the same in structure as another chemical, usually with only a small change.
Usage pattern:
[someone] develops an analog of [a compound]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'analog' in this sense simply means 'copy'. It usually means the structure is very similar but not exactly the same, and that small change can be important for how the compound works.
Synonyms
derivative (Often used in chemistry for a substance made from another; 'analog' focuses more on structural similarity than on origin.)
Antonyms
unrelated compound (Describes a compound whose structure is not similar, the opposite of a structural analog.)
Collocations
drug analog
|structural analog
|synthetic analog
|vitamin analog
|hormone analog
|design analogs
Themes
science
|medicine
|health
Examples
- The team synthesized an analog of the natural hormone with a longer half-life.
- This drug is a safer analog of an older cancer treatment.
- Researchers are testing several vitamin D analogs for improved effectiveness.
- The company patented a structural analog of the original molecule.
- A close analog of this compound already exists in the human body.
Learner examples
- The new medicine is an analog of a natural chemical in the body.
- Scientists made an analog of the hormone to study its effect.
- This drug is an analog of an older drug but has fewer side effects.
- They tested many analogs of the same basic chemical.
- Each analog has a small change in its structure.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
4
non-digital device or system
A piece of equipment or a system that works with smooth, continuous signals instead of digital numbers.
Usage pattern:
an analog of [device] / use analog rather than digital
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'an analog' here means 'an example' or 'a similar thing'. In technical and media contexts, 'analog' as a noun usually means a device or system that is not digital.
Synonyms
analog system (More explicit; clearly states that the analog thing is a system, while 'analog' alone may rely on context.)
Antonyms
digital system (A system based on discrete numbers, contrasted with an analog device or system.)
Collocations
shoot on analog
|switch from analog to digital
|analog vs digital
|pure analog
|analog setup
|analog front-end
Themes
technology
|media
|science
Examples
- Some filmmakers still prefer to shoot on analog rather than digital.
- The old studio kept an analog alongside the new digital console.
- For this effect, the engineer used an analog instead of a software plugin.
- Collectors love the sound of analog over compressed streaming audio.
- Before the switch to digital, broadcasters sent their shows over analog.
Learner examples
- My friend listens to music on analog, not on his phone.
- The TV station changed from analog to digital in 2009.
- Some people think analog sounds warmer than digital.
- The band records on analog because they like the sound.
- He keeps one analog in the studio for special projects.
Grammar
Dictionary form
analog
IPA
GB/ˈænəlˌɔɡ/
US/ˈænəlˌɔɡ/
Syllables & stress
ana - log (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ana)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: analog
- Plural: analogs
Word family
Expressions
analog clock
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ klˈɑk/
fixed phrase
clock with hands and dial
A clock that shows the time with moving hands on a round face, not with digital numbers on a screen.
Examples
- Children often learn to tell time on an analog clock first.
- There is a large analog clock on the wall of the train station.
- My phone shows a digital time, but I set the watch face to look like an analog clock.
analog device
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ dɪvˈaɪs/
fixed phrase
technical
device based on analog signals
A piece of equipment that works using smooth, continuous signals, not digital ones made of numbers.
Examples
- The lab still uses some analog devices for certain types of measurements.
- An analog device can sometimes respond more naturally to real-world changes.
- The old mixer is an analog device, but the recorder is fully digital.
analog horror
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ hˈɔɹɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
horror style using old-media look
A type of horror video or story that looks like old TV, VHS tapes, or other analog technology to create a creepy feeling.
Examples
- Analog horror series on video platforms often use fake public service announcements.
- He loves analog horror because the low-quality video makes it feel more real.
- The film mixes found footage and analog horror aesthetics.
analog recording
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ ɹɪkˈɔɹdɪŋ/
fixed phrase
non-digital audio or video recording
Sound or video that is saved in a continuous form, like on tape or vinyl, not as digital files.
Examples
- Many music fans love the warm sound of analog recording on vinyl records.
- The studio offers both analog recording to tape and digital recording to a computer.
- Old home movies are often analog recordings on film.
analog signal
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ sˈɪɡnəl/
fixed phrase
technical
continuously varying signal
A type of signal, like sound or voltage, that changes smoothly over time instead of jumping in fixed digital steps.
Examples
- The microphone converts sound waves into an analog signal.
- Analog signals can lose quality over long distances.
- The device turns the analog signal into a digital one so a computer can read it.
analog stick
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ stˈɪk/
fixed phrase
joystick-like game controller stick
A small stick on a game controller that you move with your thumb to control a character or camera in many different directions and speeds.
Examples
- Use the left analog stick to move your character.
- The analog stick on my controller is starting to drift.
- Modern gamepads usually have two analog sticks for better control.
analog vs digital
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ vˈɚsəz dˈɪd͡ʒɪtəl/
fixed phrase
comparison of analog and digital
A way to talk about the differences between older continuous technology and newer digital technology.
Examples
- The article explains analog vs digital sound in simple terms.
- In class we discussed analog vs digital photography.
- The debate over analog vs digital continues among music lovers.
analog watch
1/ˈænəlˌɔɡ wˈɔt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
watch with hands and dial
A watch that shows the time with small moving hands, not with changing digital numbers.
Examples
- He prefers an analog watch because it looks more classic.
- The smart watch can display either a digital or an analog watch face.
- She bought a simple analog watch for daily use.
digital-to-analog converter
1/dˈɪd͡ʒɪtəl tə ˈænəlˌɔɡ kənvˈɚtɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
device that converts digital to analog
A device that takes digital numbers from a computer and turns them into smooth, continuous signals, like sound you can hear.
Examples
- A good digital-to-analog converter can improve the sound from your computer.
- The audio system uses a high-quality digital-to-analog converter for music playback.
- Engineers tested the digital-to-analog converter at different sampling rates.