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sym·me·try  (sĭmĭ-trē)
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Tweet n.pl. sym·me·tries 1. The correspondence of the form and arrangement of elements or parts on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane or about a center or an axis:the symmetry of a butterfly's wings. 2. A relationship in which there is correspondence or similarity between entities or parts:the symmetry of the play, which opens and ends with a speech by a female character. 3. Beauty as a result of pleasing proportions or harmonious arrangement:"Here were the ringlets, framing a face of exquisite symmetry"(Clive Barker). 4. Physics Invariance under transformation. For example, a system that is invariant under rotation has rotational symmetry. [Latinsymmetria, fromGreeksummetriā, fromsummetros, of like measure : sun-, syn- + metron, measure; see mē-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]  (click for a larger image) symmetrytop: bilateral symmetry bottom: radial symmetry |
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