Definition of reciprocal
- a. - Recurring in vicissitude; alternate.
- a. - Done by each to the other; interchanging or
interchanged; given and received; due from each to each; mutual; as,
reciprocal love; reciprocal duties.
- a. - Mutually interchangeable.
- a. - Reflexive; -- applied to pronouns and verbs, but
sometimes limited to such pronouns as express mutual action.
- a. - Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation;
often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given
quantities. See the Phrases below.
- n. - That which is reciprocal to another thing.
- n. - The quotient arising from dividing unity by any
quantity; thus, / is the reciprocal of 4; 1/(a +b) is the reciprocal of
a + b. The reciprocal of a fraction is the fraction inverted, or the
denominator divided by the numerator.