palindrome

[ pal-in-drohm ]

noun

1. a word, line, verse, number, sentence, etc., reading the same backward as forward, as Madam, I'm Adam or Poor Dan is in a droop.
2. Biochemistry. a region of DNA in which the sequence of nucleotides is identical with an inverted sequence in the complementary strand:

   GAATTC is a palindrome of CTTAAG.

palindrome

/ ˈpælɪnˌdrəʊm; ˌpælɪnˈdrɒmɪk /

noun

1. a word or phrase the letters of which, when taken in reverse order, give the same word or phrase, such as able was I ere I saw Elba

Derived Forms

• palindromic, adjective

Other Words From

• pa·lin·dro·mist [p, uh, -, lin, -droh-mist], noun
• pal·in·drom·ic [pal-in-, drom, -ik, -, droh, -mik], palin·dromi·cal adjective
• palin·dromi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of palindrome¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Greek palíndromos “recurring,” equivalent to pálin “back, again” + -dromos “running, race” ( -drome )

Word History and Origins

Origin of palindrome¹

C17: from Greek palindromos running back again, from palin again + -drome

Example Sentences

In this case every reading of the palindrome requires the use of the central V as the middle letter.

From Project Gutenberg

In this form the solution will depend on whether the number of letters in the palindrome be odd or even.

From Project Gutenberg

Hannah therefore calls herself, again at my suggestion, "Pal," which is short for "palindrome."

From Project Gutenberg

This word, which looks like an unsuccessful palindrome, belongs to the language of medieval magic.

From Project Gutenberg

I have seen it stated that the English language affords but one specimen of the palindrome, while the Latin and Greek have many.

From Project Gutenberg