chiral

[kahy-ruh l]

adjective Chemistry.

Origin of chiral

1894; chir- < Greek cheír hand + -al¹; coined by Lord Kelvin

Related formschi·ral·i·ty

[kahy-ral-i-tee] /kaɪˈræl ɪ ti/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

1894, a hybrid coined by Lord Kelvin from Latinized comb. form of Greek kheir "hand" (from PIE *ghes- "hand;" see chiro-) + -al (1).

chiral in Medicine

(kī′rəl)

adj.

Of or relating to the structural characteristic of a molecule that makes it impossible to superimpose it on its mirror image.

Related formschi•ral′i•ty (kī-răl′ĭ-tē) n.