symmetric

English

Etymology

From Latin symmetria from Ancient Greek συμμετρία (summetría).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɪˈmɛtɹɪk/

• Audio (UK)

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Adjective

symmetric (comparative more symmetric, superlative most symmetric)

1. Symmetrical.
2. (set theory) 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).

   "Is a sibling of" is a symmetric relation.

3. (cryptography) Using the same key (or keys that are trivially related) for both encryption and decryption.

Derived terms

• antisymmetric
• asymmetric
• axisymmetric
• bisymmetric
• centrosymmetric
• dissymmetric
• enantioasymmetric
• enantiosymmetric
• hypersymmetric
• isosymmetric
• merosymmetric
• monosymmetric
• nonsymmetric
• orthosymmetric
• persymmetric
• radiosymmetric
• semisymmetric
• supersymmetric
• unsymmetric

 

Related terms

• symmetry

Translations

symmetrical — see symmetrical

of a relation R on a set S, such that xRy if and only if yRx for all members x and y of S

• Tagalog: parinayo

See also

• reflexive
• transitive

Anagrams

• mycterism