Symmetry

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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 WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  symmetry
       n 1: (mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact
            correspondence of form on opposite sides of a dividing
            line or plane [syn: {symmetricalness}, {correspondence},
             {balance}] [ant: {asymmetry}]
       2: balance among the parts of something [syn: {proportion}]
          [ant: {disproportion}]
       3: (physics) the property of being isotropic; having the same
          value when measured in different directions [syn: {isotropy}]
          [ant: {anisotropy}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  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