radial symmetry
1
6.0
- noun
- /ˈreɪdiəl ˈsɪmɪtri/
- Specialized
:
simetría radial
- Whorled flowers can abandon the radial symmetry of Arabidopsis for the bilateral symmetry of snapdragon.
Examples
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Many marine animals exhibit radial symmetry, which helps them interact with their environment equally from all sides.
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It can't have radial symmetry, so a Christmas tree or whatever is right out.
Blog text (10) -
The flower's radial symmetry allowed it to be beautiful from any angle, attracting many pollinators.
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The design of the starfish showcases radial symmetry, with five identical arms radiating from its center.
Synonyms
28
4.1
A balance of parts that match on opposite sides, like a butterfly's wings
Antonyms
How Symmetric
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'radial' (elements radiating from a center) combined with 'symmetry' (matching arrangement) clearly yields symmetry around a central axis, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE. This is a straightforward technical compound with clear cross-linguistic equivalents (e.g. Spanish 'simetría radial'), making it predictable rather than idiomatic.
Etymology
Radial symmetry paints a simple picture: imagine a wheel, a flower, or a starfish with parts like spokes or petals coming out from the center. The word radial shows the parts go out from the center and symmetry means those parts match, so the object can be split into equal slices, and that's why it means 'parts arranged around a center'.