symmetrical
or sym·met·ric
[ si-me-tri-kuhl or si-me-trik ]
/ sɪˈmɛ trɪ kəl or sɪˈmɛ trɪk /
adjective
characterized by or exhibiting symmetry; well-proportioned, as a body or whole; regular in form or arrangement of corresponding parts.
Geometry.
- noting two points in a plane such that the line segment joining the points is bisected by an axis: Points (1, 1) and (1, −1) are symmetrical with respect to the x-axis.
- noting a set consisting of pairs of points having this relation with respect to the same axis.
- noting two points in a plane such that the line segment joining the points is bisected by a point or center: The points (1, 1) and (−1, −1) are symmetrical with respect to (0, 0).
- noting a set consisting of pairs of points having this relation with respect to the same center.
Often symmetric. Mathematics.
- noting a square matrix that is equal to its transpose.
- noting a dyad or dyadic that is equal to its conjugate.
- noting a relation in which one element in relation to a second implies the second in relation to the first.
Botany.
- divisible into two similar parts by more than one plane passing through the center; actinomorphic.
- (of a flower) having the same number of parts in each whorl.
Chemistry.
- having a structure that exhibits a regular repeated pattern of the component parts.
- noting a benzene derivative in which three substitutions have occurred at alternate carbon atoms.
affecting corresponding parts simultaneously, as certain diseases.
Origin of symmetrical
First recorded in 1745–55;
symmetr(y) +
-ical
SYNONYMS FOR symmetrical
OTHER WORDS FROM symmetrical
Words nearby symmetrical
Example sentences from the Web for symmetrically
British Dictionary definitions for symmetrically
symmetrical
/ (sɪˈmɛtrɪkəl) /
adjective
possessing or displaying symmetry
Compare asymmetric
maths
- (of two points) capable of being joined by a line that is bisected by a given point or bisected perpendicularly by a given line or planethe points ( x, y ) and ( –x, –y ) are symmetrical about the origin
- (of a configuration) having pairs of points that are symmetrical about a given point, line, or planea circle is symmetrical about a diameter
- (of an equation or function of two or more variables) remaining unchanged in form after an interchange of two variablesx + y = z is a symmetrical equation
chem
(of a compound) having a molecular structure in which substituents are symmetrical about the molecule
botany another word for isomerous
Also: symmetric
(of a disease, infection, etc) affecting both sides of the body or corresponding parts, such as both legs