different between identical vs equal
identical
English
Etymology
From identic +? -al.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /??d?nt?kl?/, /a??d?nt?kl?/
- Hyphenation: i?den?ti?cal
Adjective
identical (comparative more identical, superlative most identical)
- (not comparable) Bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics; indistinguishable.
- (not comparable) Not different or other; not another or others; not different as regards self; selfsame; numerically identical.
- (not comparable, biology) Of twins, sharing the same genetic code.
- (not comparable, mathematics) Exactly equivalent.
- (comparable, rare) Approximating or approaching exact equivalence.
- 1788, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, The Federalist, XLI:
- The terms of Article 8th are still more identical.
- 1788, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, The Federalist, XLI:
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:identical.
Usage notes
- In mathematics, this adjective can be used in phrases like "A and B are identical", "A is identical to B", and, less commonly, "A is identical with B".
- Adverbs often used with "identical": absolutely, almost, nearly, practically, virtually, substantially.
Synonyms
- (bearing full likeness): same
- (selfsame): same, selfsame
Antonyms
- contrasting
- different
- distinct
- non-identical
Coordinate terms
- (of twins): dizygotic
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
Noun
identical (plural identicals)
- (usually pluralized, chiefly philosophy) Something which has exactly the same properties as something else.
- An identical twin.
Derived terms
- indiscernibility of identicals
References
- identical in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- identical in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
- identical at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams
- ctenidial, diclinate, dinetical
identical From the web:
- what identical means
- what identical twins means
- what identical twins
- what identical twins have
- what's identical equation
- what identical strands of a chromosome called
- what identically distributed
- what identical cells
equal
English
Alternative forms
- æqual (archaic), æquall (archaic)
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin aequ?lis, of unknown origin. Doublet of egal.
Pronunciation
- enPR: ?k'w?l, IPA(key): /?i?kw?l/
- Rhymes: -i?kw?l
Adjective
equal (not generally comparable, comparative more equal, superlative most equal)
- (not comparable) The same in all respects.
- 1705, George Cheyne, The Philosophical Principles of Religion Natural and Revealed
- They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me.
- 1705, George Cheyne, The Philosophical Principles of Religion Natural and Revealed
- (mathematics, not comparable) Exactly identical, having the same value.
- (obsolete) Fair, impartial.
- Are not my ways equal?
- (comparable) Adequate; sufficiently capable or qualified.
- 1881, Jane Austen, Emma, page 311
- her comprehension was certainly more equal to the covert meaning, the superior intelligence, of those five letters so arranged.
- much less is it in my power to make my commendations equal to your merits.
- 1842, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Threnody
- […] whose voice an equal messenger / Conveyed thy meaning mild.
- 1881, Jane Austen, Emma, page 311
- (obsolete) Not variable; equable; uniform; even.
- an equal temper
- (music) Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; not mixed.
Usage notes
- In mathematics, this adjective can be used in phrases like "A and B are equal", "A is equal to B", and, less commonly, "A is equal with B".
- The most common comparative use is the ironic expression more equal.
Synonyms
- (the same in all respects): identical
- (the same in all relevant respects): equivalent
- (unvarying): even, fair, uniform, unvarying
Translations
Verb
equal (third-person singular simple present equals, present participle (Commonwealth) equalling or (US) equaling, simple past and past participle (Commonwealth) equalled or (US) equaled)
- (mathematics, copulative) To be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.
- (transitive) To make equivalent to; to cause to match.
- (informal) To have as its consequence.
Synonyms
- (to be equal to): be, is
- (informal, have as its consequence): entail, imply, lead to, mean, result in, spell
Translations
Noun
equal (plural equals)
- A person or thing of equal status to others.
- Those who were once his equals envy and defame him.
- (obsolete) State of being equal; equality.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)
Synonyms
- (person or thing of equal status to others): peer
Derived terms
Related terms
- equality
Translations
Anagrams
- Quale, quale, queal
equal From the web:
- what equals
- what equals 36
- what equals 24
- what equals 18
- what equals 32
- what equals 2/3 cup
- what equals 72
- what equals 28
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