reciprocal
pronunciation
How to pronounce reciprocal in British English:
UK [rɪˈsɪprəkl]
How to pronounce reciprocal in American English:
US [rɪˈsɪprəkl]
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- Noun:
- something (a term or expression or concept) that has a reciprocal relation to something else
- (mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7
- hybridization involving a pair of crosses that reverse the sexes associated with each genotype
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- Adjective:
- concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return
- of or relating to or suggestive of complementation
- of or relating to the multiplicative inverse of a quantity or function
Word Origin
- reciprocal
- reciprocal: [16] English adapted reciprocal from Latin reciprocus ‘alternating’. This was a compound adjective based ultimately on the elements re- ‘back, backwards’ and prō- ‘for, forwards’.
- reciprocal (adj.)
- 1560s, with -al (1) + stem of Latin reciprocus "returning the same way, alternating," from pre-Latin *reco-proco-, from *recus (from re- "back;" see re-, + -cus, adjective formation) + *procus (from pro- "forward;" see pro-, + -cus. Related: Reciprocally. The noun meaning "that which is reciprocal" (to another) is from 1560s.
Example
- 1. Learning between grown ups and kids should be reciprocal .
- 2. Another is simply to make existing arrangements more reciprocal .
- 3. There has been barely any reciprocal pressure on for-profit firms to learn from the non-profits .
- 4. Yet " japan does not have a reciprocal obligation to defend the united states . "
- 5. International mail is delivered by a reciprocal arrangement .