Dyadic

/daɪˈæ.dɪk/ adj, noun

adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The sum of two or more dyads
  • Grammar: dyadic is listed as adj, noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: bilateral, binary, binary operator, bipartisan.
  • Useful contrasts: monad, monadic, non dyadic.
  • Usage evidence: Up to now, all the expressions we have called predicates have stood for properties which it makes sense to attribute to a single individual. Such predicates are known as monadic, or one-place, predicates. There are, however, many expressions which we cannot meaningfully apply to single objects, but only to groups of two, three or more objects. We cannot e.g. sensibly say 'x is greater than', but only 'x is greater than y'. Nor can we say 'x is between', or even 'x is between y', but only 'x is between y and z'. We shall say that an expression such as 'greater than' or 'between' stands not for a property of an individual, but for a relation between individuals. Since 'greater than' stands for a relation between two individuals, we shall say that the relation in question is a dyadic or a two-place relation. Similarly, 'between' stands for a triadic or three-place relation; and we can also have four-place, five-place, etc., relations. . . . A dyadic relation holds not simply between a pair of objects, but between those objects in a certain order. It is one thing to say that Bill is father of Tom, and another thing to say that Tom is father of Bill. . . . There are, it is true, certain dyadic relations whose direction is unimportant, in the sense that whenever they hold between x and y, they also hold between y and x; 'parallel to' and 'cousin of' are examples.

How to use "dyadic"

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  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dyadic" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

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Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dyadic" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

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Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "dyadic" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

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Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The sum of two or more dyads
Adjective
  1. 1
    Pertaining to a dyad, the number two; of two parts or elements.; having an arity of two (taking two arguments or operands)

    "Up to now, all the expressions we have called predicates have stood for properties which it makes sense to attribute to a single individual. Such predicates are known as monadic, or one-place, predicates. There are, however, many expressions which we cannot meaningfully apply to single objects, but only to groups of two, three or more objects. We cannot e.g. sensibly say 'x is greater than', but only 'x is greater than y'. Nor can we say 'x is between', or even 'x is between y', but only 'x is between y and z'. We shall say that an expression such as 'greater than' or 'between' stands not for a property of an individual, but for a relation between individuals. Since 'greater than' stands for a relation between two individuals, we shall say that the relation in question is a dyadic or a two-place relation. Similarly, 'between' stands for a triadic or three-place relation; and we can also have four-place, five-place, etc., relations. . . . A dyadic relation holds not simply between a pair of objects, but between those objects in a certain order. It is one thing to say that Bill is father of Tom, and another thing to say that Tom is father of Bill. . . . There are, it is true, certain dyadic relations whose direction is unimportant, in the sense that whenever they hold between x and y, they also hold between y and x; 'parallel to' and 'cousin of' are examples."

  2. 2
    Pertaining to a dyad, the number two; of two parts or elements.; binary obsolete

    "The dyadic arithmetic proposes to express all numbers by two characters, 1 and 0. The value of 1 is to double at every remove into a preceding column. Thus, 1 is represented by 1, 2 by 10, 4 by 100, and 8 by 1000; 3 is represented by 11, 5 by 101, 6 by 110, 7 by 111, 9 by 1001, and 10 by 1010. Thus far nothing seems to be gained but simplicity and there is a grievous loss of brevity. But in the huge numbers of the mathematicians this inconvenience was to fall away and the complex operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, were to sink into mere transcription."

  3. 3
    Pertaining to the physical sex of a person who is exactly male or female in genetics, anatomy and hormone levels; not intersex.

    "Although dyadic bodies may be more common, they are no more or less "normal" than intersex bodies."

Adjective
  1. 1
    of or relating to a dyad or based on two wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
bilateralbinarybinary operatorbipartisanbipartiteclassroom duet

Antonyms

monadmonadicnon dyadicsingle

Example

"Up to now, all the expressions we have called predicates have stood for properties which it makes sense to attribute to a single individual. Such predicates are known as monadic, or one-place, predicates. There are, however, many expressions which we cannot meaningfully apply to single objects, but only to groups of two, three or more objects. We cannot e.g. sensibly say 'x is greater than', but only 'x is greater than y'. Nor can we say 'x is between', or even 'x is between y', but only 'x is between y and z'. We shall say that an expression such as 'greater than' or 'between' stands not for a property of an individual, but for a relation between individuals. Since 'greater than' stands for a relation between two individuals, we shall say that the relation in question is a dyadic or a two-place relation. Similarly, 'between' stands for a triadic or three-place relation; and we can also have four-place, five-place, etc., relations. . . . A dyadic relation holds not simply between a pair of objects, but between those objects in a certain order. It is one thing to say that Bill is father of Tom, and another thing to say that Tom is father of Bill. . . . There are, it is true, certain dyadic relations whose direction is unimportant, in the sense that whenever they hold between x and y, they also hold between y and x; 'parallel to' and 'cousin of' are examples."

Common questions

What does "dyadic" mean?

The sum of two or more dyads

What is a synonym for "dyadic"?

Common synonyms include: bilateral, binary, binary operator, bipartisan, bipartite, classroom duet.

How do you use "dyadic" in a sentence?

Up to now, all the expressions we have called predicates have stood for properties which it makes sense to attribute to a single individual. Such predicates are known as monadic, or one-place, predicates. There are, however, many expressions which we cannot meaningfully apply to single objects, but only to groups of two, three or more objects. We cannot e.g. sensibly say 'x is greater than', but only 'x is greater than y'. Nor can we say 'x is between', or even 'x is between y', but only 'x is between y and z'. We shall say that an expression such as 'greater than' or 'between' stands not for a property of an individual, but for a relation between individuals. Since 'greater than' stands for a relation between two individuals, we shall say that the relation in question is a dyadic or a two-place relation. Similarly, 'between' stands for a triadic or three-place relation; and we can also have four-place, five-place, etc., relations. . . . A dyadic relation holds not simply between a pair of objects, but between those objects in a certain order. It is one thing to say that Bill is father of Tom, and another thing to say that Tom is father of Bill. . . . There are, it is true, certain dyadic relations whose direction is unimportant, in the sense that whenever they hold between x and y, they also hold between y and x; 'parallel to' and 'cousin of' are examples.

How do you pronounce "dyadic"?

Pronounced /daɪˈæ.dɪk/.

Etymology

From dyad + -ic. The mathematics sense was coined by American scientist Josiah Willard Gibbs in 1884 in the second half of his book Elements of Vector Analysis.

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