different between asymmetric vs symmetric

English

Etymology

From a- +? symmetric, as Ancient Greek ?????????? (asummetría, “disproportion, deformity”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

asymmetric (comparative more asymmetric, superlative most asymmetric)

1. Not symmetric.

   an asymmetric shape

   asymmetric gameplay, where different players have different experiences

2. (cryptography) Not involving a mutual exchange of keys between the sender and receiver.
3. (set theory) Of a relation R on a set S: having the property that for any two elements of S (not necessarily distinct), at least one is not related to the other via R.

Synonyms

• (shape: not symmetric): asymmetrical
• nonsymmetric
• unsymmetrical

Antonyms

• (shape: symmetric): symmetrical

Derived terms

• asymmetric bars
• asymmetric centre
• asymmetric meter
• asymmetric warfare
• asymmetrically

Translations

See also

• antisymmetric
• dissymmetric
• non-symmetric

English

Etymology

From Latin symmetria from Ancient Greek ????????? (summetría).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??m?t??k/

Adjective

symmetric (comparative more symmetric, superlative most symmetric)

1. Symmetrical.
2. (set theory) Of a relation R on a set S, such that xRy if and only if yRx for all members x and y of S (that is, if the relation holds between any element and a second, it also holds between the second and the first).

   "Is a sibling of" is a symmetric relation.

3. (cryptography) Using the same key (or keys that are trivially related) for both encryption and decryption.

Related terms

• asymmetric
• symmetry

Translations

See also

• reflexive
• transitive

Anagrams

• mycterism