chiral

[ kahy-ruh l ]
/ ˈkaɪ rəl /

adjective Chemistry.

(of a molecule) not superimposable on its mirror image.

Origin of chiral

1894; chir- < Greek cheír hand + -al1; coined by Lord Kelvin

OTHER WORDS FROM chiral

chi·ral·i·ty [kahy-ral-i-tee] /kaɪˈræl ɪ ti/, noun

Words nearby chiral

chippy, chipset, chiquita, chir-, chirac, chiral, chirality, chirchik, chiricahua, chirico, chirimoya

Medical definitions for chiral

chiral
[ kī′rəl ]

adj.

Of or relating to the structural characteristic of a molecule that makes it impossible to superimpose it on its mirror image.

Other words from chiral

chi•ral′i•ty (kī-răl′ĭ-tē) n.