asymmetricadj.
/asɪˈmɛtrɪk/ a. = asymmetrical adj.
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the world > space > shape > misshapenness > [adjective] > asymmetrical or misproportioned
misproportioned1552
asymmetral1615
eccentric1647
incommensurate1650
asymmetrous1661
asymmetrical1690
lopsided1711
uncertain1742
unsymmetrical1755
one-sided1857
alop1865
asymmetric1878
1878 H. P. Gurney Crystallogr. 56 Forms with asymmetric faces occur in crystals of Topaz.
1881 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon In Botany an organ is said to be asymmetric, when it cannot be divided into two similar halves by a vertical plane.
b. Chemistry. Exhibiting, pertaining to, or affected by asymmetry (sense 2b); = stereo-isomeric adj. at stereo- comb. form . Spec., asymmetric synthesis (see quots.). Cf. optical isomerism n. at optical adj. and n. Compounds.
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the world > matter > chemistry > isomerism > [adjective] > of or relating to stereo-isomerism
asymmetric1875
stereo-isomeric1897
stereomeric1898
1875 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 28 862 The author [sc. J. H. van't Hoff] proceeds to show that combinations which possess an atom of carbon combined with four different univalent groups, and which he terms an asymmetric atom, present anomalies with respect to isomerism.
1881 Nature 12 May 41/1 One asymmetric carbon atom, i.e. an atom directly united with four different radicles.
1885 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 314/2 A carbon atom combined with four different atoms or compound radicals may therefore be called an asymmetric carbon atom.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 722/1 The number of modifications of an asymmetric compound—which is not itself symmetric—is 2n, where n is the number of such carbon atoms.
1904 Jrnl. Physical Chem. 8 528 By asymmetric synthesis is meant the synthesis of a substance containing an asymmetric carbon under such conditions that there shall be formed an excess either of the dextrorotatory or of the lævorotatory compound.
1949 Thorpe's Dict. Appl. Chem. IX. 117/2 A molecule containing one asymmetric carbon atom possesses two isomeric structures, which are mirror images of each other.
1949 Thorpe's Dict. Appl. Chem. IX. 118/1 Asymmetric syntheses involving photochemical reactions under the influence of circularly polarised light have been successfully attempted.
1962 P. J. Durrant & B. Durrant Introd. Adv. Inorg. Chem. viii. 237 A rotating molecule may..be regarded as a spinning top, and on this analogy a polyatomic molecule may be placed in one of the four following classes: a. Symmetric tops. b. Spherical tops. c. Linear molecules. d. Asymmetric tops.
Draft additions December 2004
asymmetric bars n. Gymnastics (chiefly British) a pair of horizontal rails placed close together and supported on posts, with one rail about 80 cm (approx. 30.5 inches) higher than the other, used in women's gymnastics (also occasionally in singular); (also) a competitive event consisting of individual performances on such an apparatus; cf. uneven parallel bars n. at uneven adj. Additions.
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1961 Times 27 Mar. 6/3 On both asymmetric bars and vault she had made up ground lost on the beam.
1992 Olympics 92 (BBC Sports) 93/1 On the asymmetric bars the women go for consecutive releases, twisting long swings and ever more complex dismounts.
2002 Mirror (Nexis) 9 Feb. 26 It took Olga five years to develop the famous Korbut Loop in which she threw herself backwards from the top asymmetric bar and caught it again.
Draft additions September 2004
asymmetric conflict n. = asymmetric warfare n. at Additions.
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society > armed hostility > war > types of war > [noun] > other types of war
just war1485
private war1548
preventive wara1626
angelomachy1635
Titanomachy1739
mountain warfarec1800
border-war1809
world war1848
theomachy1858
trench warfare1887
electronic warfare1946
asymmetric conflict1975
cyberwar1992
asymmetrical warfare1995
1975 World Politics 27 177 In such asymmetric conflicts, insurgents may gain political victory from a situation of military stalemate or even defeat.
1994 T. V. Paul Asymmetric Conflicts ii. 20 An ‘asymmetric conflict’ is defined as a conflict involving two or more states with unequal overall military and economic power resources.
Draft additions May 2001
asymmetric digital subscriber line n. Computing and Telecommunications = ADSL n. at A n. Initialisms.
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1991 Telephony 10 June 27/1 Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) capability transports a DSI bit stream..from the public telephone network to customers.
2000 Independent 19 Sept. 17/3 ADSL or asymmetric digital subscriber line technology speeds computer data and images over BT's existing copper wire telephone lines at up to 500 kilobits per second—almost 10 times faster than current 56 kbs internet access.
Draft additions April 2004
asymmetric warfare n. warfare between forces unequal in size, composition, or means; spec. warfare in which a smaller or ostensibly inferior force uses unexpected, unconventional tactics to its advantage in combating a larger or apparently superior adversary.
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society > armed hostility > war > types of war > [noun] > guerrilla war
guerrilla1819
guerrilla war1843
urban guerrilla warfare1962
asymmetrical conflict1967
asymmetric warfare1991
1991 Press Assoc. (Nexis) 9 Feb. It was what we call today ‘asymetric [sic] warfare’—and I think we're going to see quite a bit of asymetric [sic] warfare..soon.
1997 M. C. Libicki Defending Cyberspace Introd. 8 Today's asymmetric warfare is about points, blots, and gated fences, topological forms with particular applicability to information warfare.
2001 Times 5 Dec. i. 8/2 After September 11, Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, ordered a defence strategy review to ensure that the Armed Forces could deal with the so-called asymmetric warfare threat posed by international terrorists.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adj.1875