The term "analogous" refers to things that are similar or comparable in certain aspects, even if they are different in other ways. For example, the wings of a bat and the wings of a bird serve the same function of flight, but they have different structures. This similarity in function despite differences in form is what makes them analogous. In science, the concept of analogy is often used to explain complex ideas by comparing them to more familiar ones. For instance, the way electricity flows through a circuit can be compared to water flowing through pipes, making it easier to understand how electrical systems work.