chiral

[ kahy-ruh l ]

/ ˈkaɪ rəl /

adjective Chemistry.

(of a molecule) not superimposable on its mirror image.

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Origin of chiral

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

OTHER WORDS FROM chiral

chi·ral·i·ty

[kahy-ral-i-tee] /kaɪˈræl ɪ ti/, noun

Words nearby chiral

chippy, chipset, chiquita, chir-, chirac, chiral, chirality, chirchik, chiricahua, chirico, chirimoya

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for chirality

chirality

/ (kaɪˈrælɪtɪ) /

noun

the configuration or handedness (left or right) of an asymmetric, optically active chemical compoundAlso called: dissymmetry

Derived forms of chirality

chiral, adjective

Word Origin for chirality

C19: from Greek kheir hand + -al 1 + -ity

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

Medical definitions for chirality

chiral

[ kī′rəl ]

adj.

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

Other words from chiral

chi•ral′i•ty (kī-răl′ĭ-tē) n.

Scientific definitions for chirality

chirality

[ kī-răl′ĭ-tē ]

The characteristic of a structure (usually a molecule) that makes it impossible to superimpose it on its mirror image. Also called handedness See also helicity invariance optical isomer.