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Complementary vs Obverse - What's the difference?

complementary | obverse |

As adjectives the difference between complementary and obverse

is that complementary is acting as a complement while obverse is turned or facing toward the observer.

As nouns the difference between complementary and obverse

is that complementary is a complementary colour while obverse is the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal design.

complementary

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Acting as a complement.
  • *
  • Using the terminology we intro-
    duced earlier, we might then say that black and white squares are in comple-
    mentary
    distribution on a chess-board. By this we mean two things: firstly,
    black squares and white squares occupy different positions on the board: and
    secondly, the black and white squares complement each other in the sense that
    the black squares together with the white squares comprise the total set of 64
    squares found on the board (i.e. there is no square on the board which is not
    either black or white).
  • (genetics) Of the specific pairings of the bases in DNA and RNA.
  • (physics) Pertaining to pairs of properties in quantum mechanics that are inversely related to each other, such as speed and position, or energy and time. (See also Heisenberg uncertainty principle.)
  • Usage notes

    * Complementary and complimentary are frequently confused and misused in place of one another.

    Derived terms

    * complementarily * complementarity * complementary angle * complementary colour * complementary distribution

    Noun

    (complementaries)
  • A complementary colour.
  • (obsolete) One skilled in compliments.
  • (Ben Jonson)

    obverse

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Turned or facing toward the observer.
  • The obverse side of the gravestone has the inscription.
  • Corresponding; complementary.
  • When you speak clearly, people understand you. If you don't mumble, the obverse effect is observed.
  • (botany) Having the base, or end next to the attachment, narrower than the top.
  • an obverse leaf

    Synonyms

    * (turned toward the observer ): facing, presenting * (corresponding ): analogous, like, parallel, reciprocal

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal design.
  • The medal had a cross on the obverse and had a name inscribed on the reverse.
  • (logic) The double negative of a statement e.g. All men are mortal'' => ''No man is immortal
  • Antonyms

    * reverse

    Anagrams

    * *