Definition of reciprocal Reciprocal

/ɹɪsɪˈpɹʌkʌl/ - [risiprukul] - re•cip•ro•cal

We found 19 definitions of reciprocal from 7 different sources.

What does reciprocal mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: reciprocals
reciprocal - something (a term or expression or concept) that has a reciprocal relation to something else; "risk is the reciprocal of safety"
reciprocal - (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
		multiplicative inverse
		inverse, opposite something inverted in sequence or character or effect; "when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse"
reciprocal - hybridization involving a pair of crosses that reverse the sexes associated with each genotype
		reciprocal cross
Adjective
reciprocal - concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return; "reciprocal aid"; "reciprocal trade"; "mutual respect"; "reciprocal privileges at other clubs"
		mutual
		nonreciprocal not reciprocal
		bilateral having two sides or parts
		trilateral having three sides; "a trilateral figure"
		correlative expressing a reciprocal or complementary relation; "correlative conjunctions"
		interactional, interactive capable of acting on or influencing each other
		reciprocative, reciprocatory moving alternately backward and forward
reciprocal - of or relating to the multiplicative inverse of a quantity or function; "the reciprocal ratio of a:b is b:a"

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Wiktionary

reciprocal (Noun)
Of a number, the number obtained by dividing 1 by the given number; the result of exchanging the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.
reciprocal (Adjective)
Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way.
reciprocal (Adjective)
Something that is contrary or opposite.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

reciprocal (a.)
Recurring in vicissitude; alternate.
reciprocal (a.)
Done by each to the other; interchanging or interchanged; given and received; due from each to each; mutual; as, reciprocal love; reciprocal duties.
reciprocal (a.)
Mutually interchangeable.
reciprocal (a.)
Reflexive; -- applied to pronouns and verbs, but sometimes limited to such pronouns as express mutual action.
reciprocal (a.)
Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities. See the Phrases below.
reciprocal (n.)
That which is reciprocal to another thing.
reciprocal (n.)
The quotient arising from dividing unity by any quantity; thus, / is the reciprocal of 4; 1/(a +b) is the reciprocal of a + b. The reciprocal of a fraction is the fraction inverted, or the denominator divided by the numerator.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

reciprocal
rē-sip′rō-kal, adj. acting in return: mutual: alternating: interchangeable: giving and receiving.—n. that which is reciprocal: (math.) the quotient resulting from the division of unity by any given quantity.—n. Reciprocal′ity, the state or quality of being reciprocal: mutual return.—adv. Recip′rocally, mutually: interchangeably: inversely.—ns. Recip′rocalness; Recip′rocant (math.), a contravariant expressing a certain condition of tangency: a differential invariant.—adj. Recip′rocantive, relating to a reciprocant.—v.t. Recip′rocāte, to give and receive mutually: to requite: to interchange: to alternate.—v.i. to move backward and forward: (coll.) to make a return or response.—ns. Recip′rocating-en′gine, an engine in which the piston moves forward and backward in a straight line; Reciprocā′tion, interchange of acts: alternation.—adj. Recip′rocātive, acting reciprocally.—n. Reciproc′ity, mutual obligations: action and reaction: equality of commercial privileges.—adjs. Rec′iprock, Rec′iproque (Bacon), reciprocal; Recip′rocous (rare), turning back: reciprocal.—Reciprocal proportion is when, of four terms taken in order, the first has to the second the same ratio which the fourth has to the third; Reciprocal ratio, the ratio of the reciprocals of two quantities; Reciprocal terms, those that have the same signification and consequently are convertible; Reciprocating motion, by this the power is transmitted from one part of a machine to another. [L. reciprocus.]

Electrical DictionaryThe Standard Electrical Dictionary 💡

reciprocal
The reciprocal of a number is the quotient obtained by dividing one by the number. Thus the reciprocal of 8 is 1/8.
Applied to fractions the above operation is carried out by simply inverting the fraction. Thus the reciprocal of 3/4 is 4/3 or 1-1/3.