ASYMMETRICAL

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does asymmetrical mean? 

• ASYMMETRICAL (adjective)
  The adjective ASYMMETRICAL has 2 senses:

1. characterized by asymmetry in the spatial arrangement or placement of parts or components

2. irregular in shape or outline

  Familiarity information: ASYMMETRICAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASYMMETRICAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by asymmetry in the spatial arrangement or placement of parts or components

Synonyms:

asymmetric; asymmetrical

Similar:

lopsided (having one side lower or smaller or lighter than the other)

noninterchangeable (such that the terms of an expression cannot be interchanged without changing the meaning)

unsymmetric; unsymmetrical (lacking symmetry)

Also:

irregular (contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice)

Antonym:

symmetrical (having similarity in size, shape, and relative position of corresponding parts)

Derivation:

asymmetry ((mathematics) a lack of symmetry)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Irregular in shape or outline

Synonyms:

asymmetrical; crooked

Context example:

a dress with a crooked hemline

Similar:

irregular (contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice)

 Context examples 

This allele, which encodes partitioning defective 6 homolog alpha protein, plays a role in asymmetrical cell division and cell polarization processes.

(PARD6A wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

In the dominant eye, with greater connectivity to the brain, this spot was found to be round while in the other eye, it was asymmetrical.

(Arrangement of light receptors in the eye may cause dyslexia, Wikinews)

The findings offer the best proof yet that star explosions of this type, called Type II or core-collapse supernovae, are inherently asymmetrical, a phenomenon that had been difficult to prove before now.

(Star Explosion is Lopsided, NASA)

His face was described as bilaterally asymmetrical, and various other signs of degeneration were described.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

An inherited condition marked by the following: (1) one or more first- or second-degree relatives (parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, or uncle) with malignant melanoma; (2) many moles, some of which are atypical (asymmetrical, raised, and/or different shades of tan, brown, black, or red) and often of different sizes; and (3) moles that have specific features when examined under a microscope.

(Familial Atypical Mole Melanoma Syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

Instead, her eyes were fixed anxiously upon her betrothed, and Martin, following her gaze, saw spread on that worthy's asymmetrical features nothing but black and sullen disapproval.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)