reciprocal
given or felt by each toward the other; mutual: reciprocal respect.
given, performed, felt, etc., in return: reciprocal aid.
matching; corresponding; equivalent: reciprocal privileges at other health clubs.
Grammar. (of a pronoun or verb) expressing mutual relationship or action: “Each other” and “one another” are reciprocal pronouns.
inversely corresponding; opposing: reciprocal muscles in your back.
Mathematics. noting expressions, relations, etc., involving reciprocals: a reciprocal function.
Navigation. bearing in a direction 180° to a given direction; back.
something that is reciprocal to something else: Faith and fear are reciprocals.
Also called multiplicative inverse. Mathematics. the ratio of unity to a given quantity or expression; that by which the given quantity or expression is multiplied to produce unity: The reciprocal of x is 1/x.
Origin of reciprocal
1synonym study For reciprocal
Other words from reciprocal
- re·cip·ro·cal·i·ty [ri-sip-ruh-kal-i-tee], /rɪˌsɪp rəˈkæl ɪ ti/, re·cip·ro·cal·ness, noun
- re·cip·ro·cal·ly, adverb
- non·re·cip·ro·cal, adjective, noun
- un·re·cip·ro·cal, adjective
Words that may be confused with reciprocal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use reciprocal in a sentence
The principle of reciprocality seems to require that its obligation on the other States should be reduced to the same standard.
The Federalist Papers | Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James MadisonWho shall dare dissolve or loosen this holy bond, this divine reciprocality, of Faith and Scripture?
Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit | Samuel Taylor ColeridgeAn acknowledged reciprocality in love sanctifies every little freedom: and little freedoms beget greater.
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9) | Samuel RichardsonTheir activities are based upon reciprocality, and they are to a certain extent the complements of one another.
The Negro | W.E.B. Du Bois
British Dictionary definitions for reciprocal
/ (rɪˈsɪprəkəl) /
of, relating to, or designating something given by each of two people, countries, etc, to the other; mutual: reciprocal friendship; reciprocal trade
given or done in return: a reciprocal favour
(of a pronoun) indicating that action is given and received by each subject; for example, each other in the sentence they started to shout at each other
maths of or relating to a number or quantity divided into one
nautical denoting a course or bearing that is 180° from the previous or assumed one
something that is reciprocal
Also called: inverse maths a number or quantity that when multiplied by a given number or quantity gives a product of one: the reciprocal of 2 is 0.5
Origin of reciprocal
1Derived forms of reciprocal
- reciprocality, noun
- reciprocally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for reciprocal
[ rĭ-sĭp′rə-kəl ]
Either of a pair of numbers whose product is 1. For example, the number 3 is the reciprocal of 13.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for reciprocal
The number by which a given number must be multiplied to get a result of one. The reciprocal of one-half, for example, is two.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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