Opposite vs. Reciprocal — What's the Difference?

Placed or located directly across from something else or from each other

Done, given, felt, or owed in return

Facing the other way; moving or tending away from each other

Existing, experienced, or done on both sides

Being the other of two complementary or mutually exclusive things

(Grammar) Expressing mutual action or relationship. Used of some verbs and compound pronouns.

Altogether different, as in nature, quality, or significance

(Mathematics) Of or relating to the reciprocal of a quantity.

Sharply contrasting; antithetical

(Physiology) Of or relating to a neuromuscular phenomenon in which the excitation of one group of muscles is accompanied by the inhibition of another.

Growing in pairs on either side of a stem

(Genetics) Of or designating a pair of crosses in which the male or female parent in one cross is of the same genotype or phenotype as the complementary female or male parent in the other cross.

Arranged on the same radius as another part, as stamens and petals.

Something that is reciprocal to something else.

One that is opposite or contrary to another.

(Mathematics) A number related to another in such a way that when multiplied together their product is 1. For example, the reciprocal of 7 is 1/7 ; the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2 .

An opponent or antagonist.

Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or others; two-way.

An antonym.

Mutually interchangeable.

In an opposite position

(grammar) Expressing mutual action, applied to pronouns and verbs; also in a broad sense: reflexive.

Across from or facing

(math) Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities.

In a complementary dramatic role to

Done, given, felt, or owed in return

Located directly across from something else, or from each other.

(arithmetic) The number obtained by dividing 1 by another given number; the result of exchanging the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.

(botany) Of leaves and flowers, positioned directly across from each other on a stem.

(grammar) A construction expressing mutual action.

Facing in the other direction.

Recurring in vicissitude; alternate.

Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.

Done by each to the other; interchanging or interchanged; given and received; due from each to each; mutual; as, reciprocal love; reciprocal duties.

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

Mutually interchangeable.

Something opposite or contrary to something else.

Reflexive; - applied to pronouns and verbs, but sometimes limited to such pronouns as express mutual action.

A person or thing that is entirely different from or the reverse of someone or something else; used to show contrast between two people or two things.

Used to denote different kinds of mutual relation; often with reference to the substitution of reciprocals for given quantities. See the Phrases below.

An opponent.

That which is reciprocal to another thing.

An antonym.

The quotient arising from dividing unity by any quantity; thus ¼ 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.

(mathematics) An additive inverse.

Something (a term or expression or concept) that has a reciprocal relation to something else;

In an opposite position.

(mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7

Facing, or across from.

Hybridization involving a pair of crosses that reverse the sexes associated with each genotype

In a complementary role to.

Concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return;

(television) On another channel at the same time.

Of or relating to or suggestive of complementation;

Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; - often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange; the concert hall and the state theater stood opposite each other on the plaza.

Of or relating to the multiplicative inverse of a quantity or function;

Situated on the other end of an imaginary line passing through or near the middle of an intervening space or object; - of one object with respect to another; as, the office is on the opposite side of town; - also used both to describe two objects with respect to each other; as, the stores were on opposite ends of the mall.

Applied to the other of two things which are entirely different; other; as, the opposite sex; the opposite extreme; antonyms have opposite meanings.

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node.

One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist.

That which is opposed or contrary in character or meaning; as, sweetness and its opposite; up is the opposite of down.

Two words that express opposing concepts;

A relation of direct opposition;

A contestant that you are matched against

Something inverted in sequence or character or effect;

Being directly across from each other; facing;

Of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem;

Moving or facing away from each other;

The other one of a complementary pair;

Altogether different in nature or quality or significance;

Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed;

Directly facing each other;