asymmetric

[ ey-suh-me-trik, as-uh- ]

adjective

1. not identical on both sides of a central line; unsymmetrical; lacking symmetry:

   Most faces are asymmetric.

2. (of a logical or mathematical relation) holding true of members of a class in one order but not in the opposite order, as in the relation “being an ancestor of.”
3. Chemistry.
   1. having an unsymmetrical arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
   2. noting a carbon atom bonded to four different atoms or groups.
   3. (of a polymer) noting an atom or group that is within a polymer chain and is bonded to two different atoms or groups that are external to the chain.

asymmetric

/ ˌeɪ-; ˌæsɪˈmɛtrɪk /

adjective

1. not symmetrical; lacking symmetry; misproportioned
2. chem
   1. (of a molecule) having its atoms and radicals arranged unsymmetrically
   2. (of a carbon atom) attached to four different atoms or radicals so that stereoisomerism results
   3. involving chiral molecules

      asymmetric synthesis

3. electrical engineering (of conductors) having different conductivities depending on the direction of current flow, as of diodes
4. aeronautics having unequal thrust, as caused by an inoperative engine in a twin-engined aircraft
5. logic maths (of a relation) never holding between a pair of values x and y when it holds between y and x, as " …is the father of… " Compare symmetric antisymmetric nonsymmetric

Derived Forms

• ˌasymˈmetrically, adverb

Other Words From

• a·sym·met·ri·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of asymmetric¹

First recorded in 1870–75; a- ⁶ + symmetric ( def )

Example Sentences

Today, building such asymmetric molecules and controlling which version gets produced is extremely important.

From Science News For Students

Opher and her colleagues predicted how the interstellar magnetic field would press on the heliosphere, making it asymmetric particularly in its southern part, which the Voyagers verified.

From Nautilus

Consequently, building these asymmetric molecules and controlling which version of a molecule gets produced is extremely important, especially for drug development.

From Science News

Benjamin List and David MacMillan won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their development of asymmetric organocatalysis, an "ingenious tool" to build molecules, the Nobel Foundation announced Wednesday.

From Axios

These water-repellent, UPF-50 asymmetric cargos zip off at the knee and have plenty of pockets to store extra flies and small tools.

From Outside Online

This is an ultimatum seeking a target in the disorienting matrix of asymmetric warfare.

From The Daily Beast

Like Wallace, Bruce was an underdog; unlike Wallace he won, proving himself a master of asymmetric warfare.

From The Daily Beast

This is usually attributed to the presence of an irregular astigmatism situated near the asymmetric meridian.

From Project Gutenberg

I was trying to fit the shovel in and I remember saying that is too asymmetric.

From Project Gutenberg

Similarly, for a ketohexose, which contains three asymmetric carbon atoms, there are eight possible arrangements.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence, all the possible compounds indicated by the presence of the asymmetric carbon have been found and identified.

From Project Gutenberg

What in the name of all the Csars does an asymmetric atom of carbon mean?

From Project Gutenberg