dyad

noun

dy·​ad ˈdī-ˌad How to pronounce dyad (audio)
-əd
1
: pair
specifically, sociology : two individuals (such as husband and wife) maintaining a sociologically significant relationship
2
genetics : a meiotic chromosome after separation of the two homologous (see homologous sense 1a(2)) members of a tetrad
3
mathematics : an operator (see operator sense 3a) indicated by writing the symbols of two vectors (see vector entry 1 sense 1a) without a dot or cross between
In the equation D = AB, AB is a dyad.
dyadic adjective
dyadically adverb

Examples of dyad in a Sentence

the book examines the doctor-patient dyad from several perspectives
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the study period, researchers identified 52 full sibling dyads, 90 half sibling dyads, and 72 third-degree dyads among the sampled individuals. Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 Interpersonal gazing in dyads, when the two individuals in the dyad stare at each other in the eyes, is investigated in 20 healthy young individuals at low illumination for 10-min. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 25 Aug. 2015 Eros refutes this optimism: sometimes people choose to lock themselves into dyads of exploitative misery. Agnes Callard, Harper's Magazine, 7 Feb. 2022 Some similar relationships flower into productive, loving dyads. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for dyad 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin dyad-, dyas, from Greek, from dyo — see dy-

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dyad was in 1675

Dictionary Entries Near dyad

Cite this Entry

“Dyad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dyad. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

dyad

noun
dy·​ad
variants also diad
1
: two individuals (as husband and wife) maintaining a sociologically significant relationship
2
: a meiotic chromosome after separation of the two homologous members of a tetrad
dyadic adjective
dyadically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on dyad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!