equivalent

Pluralequivalents

1. 1
   adjective

   Equal or nearly equal to another thing in value, meaning, or effect.

   Like two coins that look different but are worth the same amount.

   A dollar is roughly equivalent to a hundred cents.

   These two phones have equivalent features for very different prices.

   Similarequal, comparable, corresponding, similar, interchangeable

   Oppositedifferent, unequal, dissimilar

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A thing that is almost equal to another in value, force, or effect.

   Like swapping one toy for another that is worth the same.

   There is no exact equivalent for that word in English.

   A handshake is the polite equivalent of a formal bow in some cultures.

   Similarcounterpart, substitute, alternative, equal, match

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Of two sets, having items that match up one to one with none left over.

   Like having just enough chairs for every guest: each person gets one seat, with no extras.

   Two sets are equivalent when each item in one pairs with exactly one item in the other.

   Because the cards could be matched one to one, the two piles counted as equivalent.

   Similarequinumerous

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Able to combine with the same amount of another substance.

   Like two keys that both open the same lock equally well.

   Two acids are equivalent if they neutralize the same amount of base.

   These metals are equivalent in how much oxygen they can take up.

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   The amount of a substance that combines with or replaces a fixed amount of another.

   Like a recipe portion: the exact amount you need to match another ingredient.

   Chemists weighed out one equivalent of the acid for the reaction.

   The equivalent of this metal is its atomic weight divided by its valence.

   Note
6. 6
   adjective

   Of shapes, having the same area or size but not the same form.

   Like two glasses of different shapes that hold the same amount of water.

   A tall thin triangle and a short wide one can be equivalent in area.

   Two shapes are equivalent if they cover the same amount of space.

   Note
7. 7
   adjective

   Of a map, showing every region at its true relative size.

   Like drawing a floor plan where every room stays the right size next to the others.

   An equivalent map keeps each country the right size compared to the rest.

   Mapmakers chose an equivalent projection so the continents looked the right size.

   Similarequal-area

   Note
8. 8
   adjective

   Of two things, linked by a rule that treats them as the same in some way.

   Like sorting socks into pairs: socks that match belong in the same group.

   Two numbers are equivalent here if they leave the same remainder when divided by five.

   Under that rule, the fractions count as equivalent because they reduce to the same value.

   Similarcongruent

   Note
9. 9
   adjective

   Of two systems, so alike that one is basically a renaming of the other.

   Like two maps of the same city drawn in different colors: different look, same information.

   The two systems are equivalent because one is just a renaming of the other.

   Mathematicians showed the two structures were equivalent in every important way.

   Note

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