Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Resemblance for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Resemblance" — noun, pronounced /rɪˈzembləns/, with the stress on "sem".
Narrator: A resemblance is a similarity in appearance, character or nature between people or things.
Narrator: In plain English, a resemblance is when two things look alike — a family resemblance.
Narrator: It comes from the Old French ressembler, meaning to resemble, from re- and sembler, to seem.
Narrator: "A family resemblance" describes similar features shared by relatives.
Narrator: It differs from similarity because resemblance is about appearance, whereas similarity is broader.
Narrator: "To bear a resemblance to" is a sense meaning to look like someone or something.
Narrator: Genetics, art, everyday speech and literature all rely on the word resemblance.
Narrator: So remember: a resemblance is a likeness, from the Old French for to seem.
Speaker A: What does resemblance mean?
Speaker B: A likeness! RESEMBLANCE comes from the Old French ressembler, to seem, so it's a similarity in appearance or character.
Speaker A: So siblings have a resemblance?
Speaker B: Yes — they look alike!
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "A family resemblance"; "bears a resemblance to"; "a striking resemblance" — family, comparison and notice.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: Don't confuse resemblance with assembly, because resemblance means likeness, while assembly means gathering.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: 'Similarity' the broad cousin, 'likeness' the plain twin, 'affinity' the formal alternative. The word keeps its familiar charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "resemblance" in AI prompts — useful for genealogy apps and art tools.
Speaker A: So a prompt could frame family?
Speaker B: Right. For a genealogy app, you'd write:
Prompt: Write a short guide on tracing family resemblances through photos, naming two features to compare.
Speaker A: How about an art tool?
Speaker B: Ask the model to describe:
Prompt: Draft a gallery note on a painting's resemblance to a famous artist's style, naming one technique.
Speaker A: Could it help with a face bot?
Speaker B: Yes, you can frame comparison:
Prompt: Summarise in two sentences how facial recognition uses resemblance, naming one technology.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: For a writing chatbot, try this:
Prompt: Write a short character description noting a resemblance to a relative, naming one feature.
Resemblance — meaning in Arabic & definition More R courses GL Dictionary