Sym*met"ric*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
symétrique. See Symmetry.] 1.
Involving or exhibiting symmetry; proportional in parts; having
its parts in due proportion as to dimensions; as, a symmetrical
body or building.
2. (Biol.) Having the organs or parts
of one side corresponding with those of the other; having the parts in
two or more series of organs the same in number; exhibiting a
symmetry. See Symmetry, 2.
3. (Bot.) (a) Having an
equal number of parts in the successive circles of floral organs; --
said of flowers. (b) Having a likeness in
the form and size of floral organs of the same kind;
regular.
4. (Math.) Having a common measure;
commensurable. (b) Having corresponding
parts or relations.
&fist; A curve or a plane figure is symmetrical with respect
to a given line, and a line, surface, or solid with respect to a
plane, when for each point on one side of the line or plane there is a
corresponding point on the other side, so situated that the line
joining the two corresponding points is perpendicular to the line or
plane and is bisected by it. Two solids are symmetrical when
they are so situated with respect to an intervening plane that the
several points of their surfaces thus correspond to each other in
position and distance. In analysis, an expression is
symmetrical with respect to several letters when any two of
them may change places without affecting the expression; as, the
expression a2b + ab2 + a2c +
ac2 + b2c + bc2, is
symmetrical with respect to the letters a, b,
c.
-- Sym*met"ric*al*ly, adv. --
Sym*met"ric*al*ness, n.
Sym*met"ric*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
symétrique. See Symmetry.] 1.
Involving or exhibiting symmetry; proportional in parts; having
its parts in due proportion as to dimensions; as, a symmetrical
body or building.
2. (Biol.) Having the organs or parts
of one side corresponding with those of the other; having the parts in
two or more series of organs the same in number; exhibiting a
symmetry. See Symmetry, 2.
3. (Bot.) (a) Having an
equal number of parts in the successive circles of floral organs; --
said of flowers. (b) Having a likeness in
the form and size of floral organs of the same kind;
regular.
4. (Math.) Having a common measure;
commensurable. (b) Having corresponding
parts or relations.
&fist; A curve or a plane figure is symmetrical with respect
to a given line, and a line, surface, or solid with respect to a
plane, when for each point on one side of the line or plane there is a
corresponding point on the other side, so situated that the line
joining the two corresponding points is perpendicular to the line or
plane and is bisected by it. Two solids are symmetrical when
they are so situated with respect to an intervening plane that the
several points of their surfaces thus correspond to each other in
position and distance. In analysis, an expression is
symmetrical with respect to several letters when any two of
them may change places without affecting the expression; as, the
expression a2b + ab2 + a2c +
ac2 + b2c + bc2, is
symmetrical with respect to the letters a, b,
c.
-- Sym*met"ric*al*ly, adv. --
Sym*met"ric*al*ness, n.