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Symbiotic vs Reciprocal - What's the difference?

symbiotic | reciprocal |

As adjectives the difference between symbiotic and reciprocal

is that symbiotic is (biology) of, or relating to symbiosis; living together 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 symbiotic and reciprocal

is that symbiotic is (astronomy) symbiotic star while reciprocal is (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.

symbiotic

English

Adjective

(-)
  • (biology) Of, or relating to symbiosis; living together.
    • A lichen is a fungus with symbiotic algae among its cells.
  • *
  • Of a relationship with mutual benefit between two individuals or organisms.

    • Usage notes

    Although the biologic meaning of symbiotic strictly refers to "living together", regardless of the nature of the relationship, in casual speech the word typically implies a beneficial relationship.

    Synonyms

    * (with mutual benefit) mutualistic

    Derived terms

    * symbiotically

    Related terms

    * symbiont * symbiote

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (astronomy) symbiotic star

    • 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