Adjacent Words

Symmetry definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SYM'METRY, n. [Gr. with, together, and to measure.] A due proportion of the several parts of a body to each other; adaptation of the dimensions of the several parts of a thing to each other; or the union and conformity of the members of a work to the whole. Symmetry arises from the proportion which the Greeks call analogy, which is the relation of conformity of all the parts to a certain measure; as the symmetry of a building or an animal body.
Uniform symmetry, in architecture, is where the same ordonnance reigns throughout the whole.
symmetry, is where only the opposite sides are equal to each other.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane [syn: symmetry, symmetricalness, correspondence, balance] [ant: asymmetry, dissymmetry, imbalance]
2: balance among the parts of something [syn: symmetry, proportion] [ant: disproportion]
3: (physics) the property of being isotropic; having the same value when measured in different directions [syn: isotropy, symmetry] [ant: anisotropy]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -tries) Etymology: Latin symmetria, from Greek, from symmetros symmetrical, from syn- + metron measure — more at measure Date: 1563 1. balanced proportions; also beauty of form arising from balanced proportions 2. the property of being symmetrical; especially correspondence in size, shape, and relative position of parts on opposite sides of a dividing line or median plane or about a center or axis — compare bilateral symmetry, radial symmetry 3. a rigid motion of a geometric figure that determines a one-to-one mapping onto itself 4. the property of remaining invariant under certain changes (as of orientation in space, of the sign of the electric charge, of parity, or of the direction of time flow) — used of physical phenomena and of equations describing them

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -ies) 1 a correct proportion of the parts of a thing; balance, harmony. b beauty resulting from this. 2 a a structure that allows an object to be divided into parts of an equal shape and size and similar position to the point or line or plane of division. b the possession of such a structure. c approximation to such a structure. 3 the repetition of exactly similar parts facing each other or a centre. 4 Bot. the possession by a flower of sepals and petals and stamens and pistils in the same number or multiples of the same number. Derivatives: symmetric adj. symmetrical adj. symmetrically adv. symmetrize v.tr. (also -ise). Etymology: obs. F symmétrie or L summetria f. Gk (as SYN-, metron measure)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Symmetry Sym"me*try, n. [L. symmetria, Gr. ?; sy`n with, together + ? a measure: cf. F. sym['e]trie. See Syn-, and Meter rhythm.] 1. A due proportion of the several parts of a body to each other; adaptation of the form or dimensions of the several parts of a thing to each other; the union and conformity of the members of a work to the whole. 2. (Biol.) The law of likeness; similarity of structure; regularity in form and arrangement; orderly and similar distribution of parts, such that an animal may be divided into parts which are structurally symmetrical. Note: Bilateral symmetry, or two-sidedness, in vertebrates, etc., is that in which the body can be divided into symmetrical halves by a vertical plane passing through the middle; radial symmetry, as in echinoderms, is that in which the individual parts are arranged symmetrically around a central axis; serial symmetry, or zonal symmetry, as in earthworms, is that in which the segments or metameres of the body are disposed in a zonal manner one after the other in a longitudinal axis. This last is sometimes called metamerism. 3. (Bot.) (a) Equality in the number of parts of the successive circles in a flower. (b) Likeness in the form and size of floral organs of the same kind; regularity. Axis of symmetry. (Geom.) See under Axis. Respective symmetry, that disposition of parts in which only the opposite sides are equal to each other.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(symmetries) 1. Something that has symmetry is symmetrical in shape, design, or structure. ...the incredible beauty and symmetry of a snowflake... I loved the house because it had perfect symmetry... N-VAR 2. Symmetry in a relationship or agreement is the fact of both sides giving and receiving an equal amount. The superpowers pledged to maintain symmetry in their arms shipments.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Proportion, harmony, shapeliness, regularity, order, regular arrangement.

Moby Thesaurus

accord, accordance, affinity, agreement, arrangement, array, assent, balance, beauty, chorus, coequality, coextension, coherence, coincidence, communion, community, compatibility, concert, concinnity, concord, concordance, conformance, conformation, conformity, congeniality, congruence, congruency, congruity, congruousness, consistency, consonance, consort, cooperation, corelation, correlation, correlativism, correlativity, correspondence, deployment, disposal, disposition, equality, equation, equilibrium, equipoise, equipollence, equiponderance, equity, equivalence, equivalency, euphony, evenness, finish, formation, harmony, identity, intersection, inverse proportion, inverse ratio, inverse relationship, justice, layout, levelness, likeness, lineup, marshaling, measure, measuredness, mutuality, oneness, order, orderedness, orderliness, organization, overlap, par, parallelism, parity, peace, poise, proportion, proportionality, quiet, quietude, rapport, reciprocality, reciprocation, reciprocity, regularity, relativity, rhythm, routine, self-consistency, setup, structure, sweetness, sync, synchronism, system, tally, timing, tranquillity, uniformity, union, unison, unisonance