reciprocal

 
Pronunciation: /rɪˈsɪprək(ə)l/

adjective

  • 1given, felt, or done in return: she was hoping for some reciprocal comment or gesture
  • 2(of an agreement or obligation) bearing on or binding each of two parties equally: the treaty is a bilateral commitment with reciprocal rights and duties
  • Grammar (of a pronoun or verb) expressing mutual action or relationship.
  • 3(of a course or bearing) differing from a given course or bearing by 180 degrees: he took up a reciprocal heading and dropped down to 2,000 ft
  • 4 Mathematics (of a quantity or function) related to another so that their product is unity.

noun

  • 1 Mathematics an expression or function so related to another that their product is unity; the quantity obtained by dividing the number one by a given quantity: the compressibility is the reciprocal of the bulk modulus
  • 2 Grammar a pronoun or verb expressing mutual action or relationship, e.g. each other, fight.

Derivatives

reciprocality

Pronunciation: /-ˈkalɪti/
noun

reciprocally

adverb

Origin:

late 16th century: from Latin reciprocus (based on re- 'back' + pro- 'forward') + -al