symmetry

sym·me·try

noun \ˈsi-mə-trē\

plural sym·me·tries

Definition of SYMMETRY

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

Examples of SYMMETRY

1. the symmetry of the human body
2. The building has perfect symmetry.

Origin of SYMMETRY

Latin symmetria, from Greek, from symmetros symmetrical, from syn- + metron measure — more at measure

First Known Use: 1563

Related to SYMMETRY

Synonyms

balance, coherence, concinnity, consonance, consonancy, orchestration, proportion, harmony, symphony, unity

Antonyms

asymmetry, discordance, disproportion, disunity, imbalance, incoherence, violence

Related Words

coordination, correlation, correspondence, equalization, equilibrium, evenness, order, orderliness, regularity, uniformity

Near Antonyms

confusion, disorganization, dissonance, disturbance, tension; disconnectedness, disjointedness, incompatibility; irregularity, unevenness

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

sym·me·try

noun \ˈsim-ə-trē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; sym·me·tries

Medical Definition of SYMMETRY

1

: 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—see bilateral symmetry, radial symmetry

2

: 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

symmetry

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In geometry, the property by which the sides of a figure or object reflect each other across a line (axis of symmetry) or surface; in biology, the orderly repetition of parts of an animal or plant; in chemistry, a fundamental property of orderly arrangements of atoms in molecules or crystals; in physics, a concept of balance illustrated by such fundamental laws as the third of Newton's laws of motion. Symmetry in nature underlies one of the most fundamental concepts of beauty. It connotes balance, order, and thus, to some, a type of divine principle.