dichotomy

di·chot·o·my

 (dī-kŏt′ə-mē)

n. pl. di·chot·o·mies

1. A division into two contrasting parts or categories: the dichotomy between rural and urban communities; regards the division between nature and nurture as a false dichotomy.

2. Astronomy The phase of the moon, Mercury, or Venus when half of the disk is illuminated.

3. Botany Branching characterized by successive forking into two approximately equal divisions.

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[Greek dikhotomiā, from dikhotomos, divided in two : dikho-, dicho- + temnein, to cut; see tem- in Indo-European roots.]

dichotomy

(daɪˈkɒtəmɪ)

n, pl -mies

1. division into two parts or classifications, esp when they are sharply distinguished or opposed: the dichotomy between eastern and western cultures.

2. (Logic) logic the division of a class into two mutually exclusive subclasses: the dichotomy of married and single people.

3. (Botany) botany a simple method of branching by repeated division into two equal parts

4. (Astronomy) the phase of the moon, Venus, or Mercury when half of the disc is visible

[C17: from Greek dichotomia; see dicho-, -tomy]

diˈchotomous, dichotomic adj

diˈchotomously adv

Usage: Dichotomy should always refer to a division of some kind into two groups. It is sometimes used to refer to a puzzling situation which seems to involve a contradiction, but this use is generally thought to be incorrect

di•chot•o•my

(daɪˈkɒt ə mi)

n., pl. -mies.

1. division into two parts or kinds; subdivision into halves or pairs.

2. division into two exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups: a dichotomy between thought and action.

3. a mode of branching by constant forking, as in some stems.

4. the phase of the moon or of an inferior planet when half of its disk is visible.

[1600–10; < Greek]

dichotomy

division of material into two parts for the purpose of classification. — dichotomist, n.

See also: Classification

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

dichotomy - being twofold; a classification into two opposed parts or subclasses; "the dichotomy between eastern and western culture" duality categorisation, categorization, classification - a group of people or things arranged by class or category

dichotomy

noun division, gulf, split, separation, polarity, disjunction a dichotomy between the academic world and the industrial world

Usage: Dichotomy should always refer to a division of some kind into two groups. It is sometimes used to refer to a puzzling situation, which seems to involve a contradiction, but this use is thought by many to be incorrect, and dilemma is a more appropriate alternative.

Translations

διχοτομία

dichotomie

dicotomia

dichotomy

[dɪˈkɒtəmɪ] N → dicotomía f

dichotomy

[daɪˈkɒtəmi] n → dichotomie f
a dichotomy between → une dichotomie entre

dichotomy

n → Trennung f, → Dichotomie f

dichotomy

[dɪˈkɒtəmɪ] n (frm) → dicotomia

di·chot·o·my

, dichotomization

n. dicotomía, dicotomización, división en dos partes; bifurcación.