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bilateral symmetry

noun

, Biology.
  1. a basic body plan in which the left and right sides of the organism can be divided into approximate mirror images of each other along the midline.


bilateral symmetry

noun

  1. the property of an organism or part of an organism such that, if cut in only one plane, the two cut halves are mirror images of each other See also radial symmetry
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


bilateral symmetry

/ bī-lătər-əl /

  1. Symmetrical arrangement of an organism or part of an organism along a central axis, so that the organism or part can be divided into two equal halves. Bilateral symmetry is a characteristic of animals that are capable of moving freely through their environments.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of bilateral symmetry1

First recorded in 1850–55
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Compare Meanings

How does bilateral symmetry compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

According to the new study, bilateral symmetry -- where there is only one line that divides the flower into two equal halves -- has evolved and been lost multiple times independently in sunflowers over evolutionary history.

Sea anemones are from a different branch of the animal tree; they have only two layers of cells and radial rather than bilateral symmetry.

The scientists behind it say the development of bilateral symmetry was a critical step in the evolution of animal life.

From BBC

It didn’t help that they lacked bilateral symmetry, that their long stalks with blobby appendages appeared to human eyes to be distributed totally randomly.

From Nature

Another particularly lovely sequence takes advantage of the bilateral symmetry of the book.

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