See Also: Equivalent(medicine)
equivalent(dictionary)
EQUIVALENT(law)
Tax-equivalent yield(money)
equivalent weight(encyclopedia)
roentgen-equivalent(medicine)
starch equivalent(medicine)
toxic equivalent(medicine)
equivalent 1, adjective(dictionary)
Tax equivalent yield(finance)

equivalent (iou)



equivalent adjective & noun. LME.
[Old & mod. French equivalent from late Latin aequivalent- pres. ppl stem of aequivalere, formed as EQUI- + valere be strong: see -ENT.]
A. adjective.
Of persons or things: equal in power, rank, authority, or excellence. (Foll. by to, with, for.) LME-L17.
Equal in value, significance, or meaning. (Foll. by to, with, for.) E16.
H. Adams The minstrel, or menestrier, became very early a word of abuse, equivalent to blackguard. R. Owen Speedboats and crystal chandeliers at prices equivalent to a lifetime's wages.
That is virtually the same thing; having the same effect. (Foll. by to.) M17.
equivalent circuit a notional electric circuit in which components such as resistors and capacitors are interconnected so as to reproduce the behaviour of a more complicated circuit or device and simplify its analysis.
Having the same relative position or function; corresponding. (Foll. by to.) M17.
N. Chomsky We have the right to maintain missiles on the Russian border.., but..they do not have the equivalent right.
Chemistry. Of a quantity of a substance: just sufficient to combine with or displace a specified quantity of another substance. M17.
equivalent weight the weight of a substance that is equivalent to 8 grams of oxygen or 1.0079 grams of hydrogen (formerly, to 1 gram of hydrogen).
Math. Belonging to the same equivalence class. M20.
b. noun.
Something equal in value or worth. Also, something tantamount or virtually identical. E16.
J. Braine Susan was a princess and I was the equivalent of a swine-herd. J. Barzun The expert, the Ph.D. or his equivalent, is everywhere. I. Murdoch She was used to doing things on the hunting field which seemed the equivalent of suicide.
A word, expression, sign, etc., of equivalent significance. M17.
A. Lurie He..made a neutral noise, the auditory equivalent of a shrug.
Chemistry. An amount of a substance whose weight is the equivalent weight of the substance. E19.
Phrases: mechanical equivalent of heat the amount of mechanical energy that is equivalent to a standard amount of thermal energy, now 1 calorie (= 4.1868 joule).
equivalently adverb (a) to an equivalent extent or degree; (b) as an equivalent term; with equivalent significance; (c) virtually, in effect: E16.