symmetry
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
{Axis of symmetry}. (Geom.) See under {Axis}.
{Respective symmetry}, that disposition of parts in which
only the opposite sides are equal to each other.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
106 Moby Thesaurus words for "symmetry":
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
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