radial asymmetry
- noun
- /ˈreɪdiəl æˈsɪmɛtri/
- Specialized
:
asimetría radial
- Some marine sponges exhibit radial asymmetry instead of the more common bilateral symmetry.
Examples
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The unusual fossil displayed clear radial asymmetry, making classification difficult.
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The flower displayed a unique radial asymmetry that fascinated botanists.
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In biology, radial asymmetry can affect how an organism interacts with its environment.
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Many sea creatures exhibit radial asymmetry in their body structure.
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Many sea creatures, such as jellyfish, exhibit radial asymmetry in their body structure.
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In biology, radial asymmetry is often observed in species like sea anemones, distinguishing them from other organisms.
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The unusual fossil displayed clear radial asymmetry, revealing its unique evolutionary adaptations.
Synonyms
19
6.5
When two sides are not the same in shape, size, or position
A situation where two or more parts are not the same
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
6.0
Parts arranged around a central point so many cuts make identical sections
How Symmetric
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'radial' specifies the kind of 'asymmetry' (i.e., lack of symmetry around a center or axis), so the overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. The modifier-noun pattern and the underlying logic are cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
The term radial asymmetry contains radial, meaning like rays from a centre, and asymmetry, meaning 'not the same'. Imagine a flower or star whose petals or points are different sizes so it is not the same all around the centre, and that image explains why radial asymmetry means 'not the same all around the centre'.