equivalent

English Online Dictionary. What means equivalent‎? What does equivalent mean?

English

Alternative forms

• æquivalent (archaic)
• eq. (abbreviation)

Etymology

From equi- +‎ -valent. From Latin aequivalentem, accusative singular of aequivalēns, present active participle of aequivaleō (“I am equivalent, have equal power”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/

Adjective

equivalent (comparative more equivalent, superlative most equivalent)

1. Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.

   Synonym: on a par
2. (mathematics) Of two sets, having a one-to-one correspondence.

   Synonym: equinumerous
3. (mathematics) Relating to the corresponding elements of an equivalence relation.
4. (mathematics, category theory) Of two categories, (informally) such that one is essentially a relabeling of the other; (formally) related by a pair of functors such the composition of the one with the other is naturally isomorphic to the identity functor.
5. (chemistry) Having the equal ability to combine.
6. (cartography) Of a map, equal-area.
7. (geometry) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; applied to magnitudes.

Usage notes

• In mathematics, this adjective can be used in phrases like "A and B are equivalent", "A is equivalent to B", and, less commonly, "A is equivalent with B".

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

equivalent (plural equivalents)

1. Anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.

   Coordinate term: counterpart
2. (chemistry) An equivalent weight.

Usage notes

Sometimes the noun equivalent to denote a comparable option is assailed for falsely implying absence of difference (false equivalence); when this problem arises, the noun counterpart, or a collocation such as rough equivalent or near equivalent, is sometimes a less misleading choice. In some contexts, the nouns analog or homolog are apt.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

equivalent (third-person singular simple present equivalents, present participle equivalenting, simple past and past participle equivalented)

1. (transitive) To make equivalent to; to equal.

Catalan

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin aequivalentem. First attested in 1696.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [ə.ki.βəˈlen]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [ə.ki.vəˈlent]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [e.ki.vaˈlent]

Adjective

equivalent m or f (masculine and feminine plural equivalents)

1. equivalent

Related terms

• equivalència
• equivaler

Noun

equivalent m (plural equivalents)

1. equivalent
2. (chemistry) equivalent

References

Further reading

• “equivalent” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “equivalent” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “equivalent” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Etymology 2

Verb

equivalent

1. gerund of equivaldre
2. gerund of equivaler

Dutch

Alternative forms

• aequivalentie (dated, superseded)

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French équivalent, from Latin aequivalēns.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌeː.kʋi.vaːˈlɛnt/
• Hyphenation: equi‧va‧lent
• Rhymes: -ɛnt

Adjective

equivalent (not comparable)

1. equivalent

Declension

Derived terms

• equivalentie

Noun

equivalent n (plural equivalenten)

1. equivalent

Descendants

• → Indonesian: ekuivalen, ekuivalensi

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin aequivalēns.

Pronunciation

Adjective

equivalent m (feminine singular equivalenta, masculine plural equivalents, feminine plural equivalentas)

1. equivalent

Related terms

• equivaléncia
• equivaler