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chiral

[kahy-ruh l]
adjective Chemistry.
  1. (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
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
British Dictionary definitions for chirality

chirality

noun
  1. the configuration or handedness (left or right) of an asymmetric, optically active chemical compoundAlso called: dissymmetry
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Derived Formschiral, adjective

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for chirality

chiral

adj.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
chirality in Medicine

chiral

(kī′rəl)
adj.
  1. Of or relating to the structural characteristic of a molecule that makes it impossible to superimpose it on its mirror image.
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Related formschi•ral′i•ty (kī-răl′ĭ-tē) n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
chirality in Science

chirality

[kī-răl′ĭ-tē]
  1. 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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.