asymmetric

or a·sym·met·ri·cal

[ ey-suh-me-trik or ey-suh-me-tri-kuh l; as-uh- ]
/ ˌeɪ səˈmɛ trɪk or ˌeɪ səˈmɛ trɪ kəl; ˌæs ə- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR asymmetric ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

not identical on both sides of a central line; unsymmetrical; lacking symmetry: Most faces are asymmetric.
(of a logical or mathematical relation) holding true of members of a class in one order but not in the opposite order, as in the relation “being an ancestor of.”
Chemistry.
  1. having an unsymmetrical arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
  2. noting a carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups.
  3. (of a polymer) noting an atom or group that is within a polymer chain and is bonded to two different atoms or groups that are external to the chain.

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Origin of asymmetric

First recorded in 1870–75; a-6 + symmetric

OTHER WORDS FROM asymmetric

a·sym·met·ri·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby asymmetric

asylee, asyllabic, asylum, asylum seeker, asymbolia, asymmetric, asymmetric bars, asymmetric time, asymmetric warfare, asymmetrical, asymmetrical warfare
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to asymmetric

asymmetrical, unbalanced, unsymmetrical

Example sentences from the Web for asymmetric

British Dictionary definitions for asymmetric

asymmetric

asymmetrical

/ (ˌæsɪˈmɛtrɪk, ˌeɪ-) /

adjective

not symmetrical; lacking symmetry; misproportioned
chem
  1. (of a molecule) having its atoms and radicals arranged unsymmetrically
  2. (of a carbon atom) attached to four different atoms or radicals so that stereoisomerism results
  3. involving chiral moleculesasymmetric synthesis
electrical engineering (of conductors) having different conductivities depending on the direction of current flow, as of diodes
aeronautics having unequal thrust, as caused by an inoperative engine in a twin-engined aircraft
logic maths (of a relation) never holding between a pair of values x and y when it holds between y and x, as " …is the father of… "Compare symmetric (def. 1), antisymmetric, nonsymmetric

Derived forms of asymmetric

asymmetrically, 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