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Opposite vs Reciprocal - What's the difference?

opposite | reciprocal |

Reciprocal is a synonym of opposite.



As adjectives the difference between opposite and reciprocal

is that opposite is located directly across from something else, or from each other while reciprocal is of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way.

As nouns the difference between opposite and reciprocal

is that opposite is something opposite or contrary to another while reciprocal is 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.

As an adverb opposite

is in an opposite position.

As a preposition opposite

is facing, or across from.

opposite

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (archaic)

Adjective

(-)
  • Located directly across from something else, or from each other.
    • She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.
  • Facing in the other direction.
    • They were moving in opposite directions.
  • Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.
    • He has a lot of success with the opposite sex.
  • Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
  • * Dryden
    • Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pieasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem.
  • * John Locke
    • Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite , significations.

    Derived terms

    * opposite sex

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something opposite or contrary to another.
  • An opponent.
  • An antonym.
    • "Up" is the opposite of "down".
  • (mathematics) An additive inverse.

    • Derived terms

    * opposites attract

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In an opposite position.
    • I was on my seat and she stood opposite .

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Facing, or across from.
  • :
  • *
  • *:It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street.. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.
  • In a complementary role to.
  • :

    • See also

    * apposite

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    reciprocal

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way.
    • reciprocal''' love; '''reciprocal duties
  • * Shakespeare
    • Let our reciprocal vows be remembered.
  • Mutually interchangeable.
  • * I. Watts
    • These two rules will render a definition reciprocal with the thing defined.
  • (grammar) Reflexive; applied to pronouns and verbs, but sometimes limited to pronouns that express mutual action.
  • (math) Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities.
  • contrary or opposite

    • Synonyms

    * mutual, two-way * contrary, opposite, converse, inverse, inverted, cross * See also

    Related terms

    * reciprocity

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (arithmetic) 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.
    • 0.5 is the reciprocal of 2.

    Synonyms

    * (in arithmetic) multiplicative inverse