4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Equivalent  \E*quiv"a*lent\,  n. 
  1.  Something  equivalent;  that  which  is  equal  in  value,  worth, 
  weight,  or  force;  as  to  offer  an  equivalent  for  damage 
  done 
 
  He  owned  that  if  the  Test  Act  were  repealed,  the 
  Protestants  were  entitled  to  some  equivalent.  .  .  . 
  During  some  weeks  the  word  equivalent,  then  lately 
  imported  from  France,  was  in  the  mouths  of  all  the 
  coffeehouse.  --Macaulay. 
 
  2.  (Chem.)  That  comparative  quantity  by  weight  of  an  element 
  which  possesses  the  same  chemical  value  as  other  elements, 
  as  determined  by  actual  experiment  and  reference  to  the 
  same  standard.  Specifically: 
  a  The  comparative  proportions  by  which  one  element 
  replaces  another  in  any  particular  compound;  thus  as 
  zinc  replaces  hydrogen  in  hydrochloric  acid,  their 
  equivalents  are  32.5  and  1. 
  b  The  combining  proportion  by  weight  of  a  substance,  or 
  the  number  expressing  this  proportion,  in  any 
  particular  compound;  as  the  equivalents  of  hydrogen 
  and  oxygen  in  water  are  respectively  1  and  8,  and  in 
  hydric  dioxide  1  and  16. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Equivalent  \E*quiv"a*lent\,  a.  [L.  aequivalens  -entis,  p.  pr 
  of  aequivalere  to  have  equal  power;  aequus  equal  +  valere  to 
  be  strong,  be  worth:  cf  F.  ['e]quivalent.  See  {Equal},  and 
  {Valiant}.] 
  1.  Equal  in  wortir  or  value,  force,  power,  effect,  import, 
  and  the  like  alike  in  significance  and  value;  of  the  same 
  import  or  meaning. 
 
  For  now  to  serve  and  to  minister,  servile  and 
  ministerial,  are  terms  equivalent.  --South. 
 
  2.  (Geom.)  Equal  in  measure  but  not  admitting  of 
  superposition;  --  applied  to  magnitudes;  as  a  square  may 
  be  equivalent  to  a  triangle. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Equivalent  \E*quiv"a*lent\,  v.  t. 
  To  make  the  equivalent  to  to  equal;  equivalence.  [R.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  equivalent 
  adj  1:  equal  in  amount  or  value;  "like  amounts";  "equivalent 
  amounts";  "the  same  amount";  "gave  one  six  blows  and 
  the  other  a  like  number";  "an  equal  number";  "the  same 
  number"  [syn:  {like},  {equal},  {same}]  [ant:  {unlike}] 
  2:  essentially  equal;  "women  are  paid  less  than  men  doing 
  equivalent  work" 
  n  1:  a  person  or  thing  equal  to  another  in  value  or  measure  or 
  force  or  effect  or  significance  etc:  "send  two  dollars 
  or  the  equivalent  in  stamps" 
  2:  the  atomic  weight  of  an  element  that  has  the  same  combining 
  capacity  as  a  given  weight  of  another  element;  the 
  standard  is  8  for  oxygen  [syn:  {equivalent  weight},  {combining 
  weight},  {eq}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words