reciprocal

[ ri-sip-ruh-kuh l ]
/ rɪˈsɪp rə kəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR reciprocal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

noun

something that is reciprocal to something else; equivalent; counterpart; complement.
Also called multiplicative inverse. Mathematics. the ratio of unity to a given quantity or expression; that by which the given quantity or expression is multiplied to produce unity: The reciprocal of x is 1/x.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of reciprocal

1560–70; < Latin reciproc(us) returning, reciprocal + -al1

synonym study for reciprocal

1. See mutual.

OTHER WORDS FROM reciprocal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reciprocal

mutual reciprocal (see synonym study at mutual)common mutual reciprocal (see usage note at mutual)

Words nearby reciprocal

recip., recipe, recipience, recipiency, recipient, reciprocal, reciprocal exchange, reciprocal inhibition, reciprocal insurance, reciprocal leveling, reciprocal transfusion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to reciprocally

simultaneously, mutually, together, accordingly, cooperatively, collectively, unitedly, jointly, commonly, agreeably, alike, combined, inextricably, intimately, similarly, concurrently, coincidentally, companionably, concomitantly, harmoniously

Example sentences from the Web for reciprocally

British Dictionary definitions for reciprocally

reciprocal
/ (rɪˈsɪprəkəl) /

adjective

noun

something that is reciprocal
Also called: inverse maths a number or quantity that when multiplied by a given number or quantity gives a product of onethe reciprocal of 2 is 0.5

Derived forms of reciprocal

reciprocality, nounreciprocally, adverb

Word Origin for reciprocal

C16: from Latin reciprocus alternating
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 reciprocally

reciprocal
[ rĭ-sĭp′rə-kəl ]

adj.

Of or relating to a neuromuscular phenomenon in which the excitation of one group of muscles is accompanied by the inhibition of another.
Of or being a pair of crosses in which the male parent in one cross is of the same genotype or phenotype as the female parent in the other cross.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for reciprocally

reciprocal
[ rĭ-sĭp′rə-kəl ]

Either of a pair of numbers whose product is 1. For example, the number 3 is the reciprocal of 13.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for reciprocally

reciprocal

The number by which a given number must be multiplied to get a result of one. The reciprocal of one-half, for example, is two.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.