symmetric

CEFRB2

/sɪˈmɛt.ɹɪk/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Having matching parts on opposite sides.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Of a relation R on a set S, such that xRy if and only if yRx for all members x and y of S (that is, if the relation holds between any element and a second, it also holds between the second and the first).

Examples

  • The relationship "A loves B" is not reflexive, transitive, or symmetric.

  • "Is a sibling of" is a symmetric relation.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /sɪˈmet.ɹɪk/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings
  1. Using the same key (or keys that are trivially related) for both encryption and decryption.

  2. Synonym of symmetrical

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The butterfly's wings are perfectly blank, each side a mirror image.

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

From symmetry + -ic, from Latin symmetria, from Ancient Greek συμμετρία (summetría).