isomorphism
|i-so-mor-phism|
🇺🇸
/ˌaɪsoʊˈmɔːrfɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌaɪsəˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/
same form/structure
Etymology
'isomorphism' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'isos' and 'morphe', where 'isos' meant 'equal' and 'morphe' meant 'form' or 'shape'.
'isomorphism' entered English via New Latin and scientific usage in the 19th century (from Greek roots 'isos' + 'morphe'), forming the modern scientific term 'isomorphism'.
Initially, the components meant 'equal form' in a literal sense, but over time the term evolved into a technical notion meaning 'a structure-preserving correspondence' (especially in mathematics).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a bijective structure-preserving mapping between two mathematical objects (such as groups, rings, vector spaces, graphs) showing they have the same structural form; two objects related by such a mapping are called isomorphic.
There is an isomorphism between the two groups, so they have essentially the same algebraic structure.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
a more general similarity of form or structure between systems, objects, or models (used outside strict mathematical contexts).
The designer noted an isomorphism between the layout of the two circuits, which helped simplify testing.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/19 11:14