isomorphism

[ahy-suh-mawr-fiz-uh m] /ˌaɪ səˈmɔr fɪz əm/
noun
1.
the state or property of being isomorphous or isomorphic.
2.
Mathematics. a one-to-one relation onto the map between two sets, which preserves the relations existing between elements in its domain.
Origin
1820-30; isomorph(ous) + -ism
British Dictionary definitions for isomorphism

isomorphism

/ˌaɪsəʊˈmɔːfɪzəm/
noun
1.
(biology) similarity of form, as in different generations of the same life cycle
2.
(chem) the existence of two or more substances of different composition in a similar crystalline form
3.
(maths) a one-to-one correspondence between the elements of two or more sets, such as those of Arabic and Roman numerals, and between the sums or products of the elements of one of these sets and those of the equivalent elements of the other set or sets
Word Origin and History for isomorphism
n.

from German Isomorphismus, 1828, coined by German chemist Eilhard Mitscherlich (1794-1863) from isomorph; see isomorphic. Related: Isomorph.

isomorphism in Medicine

isomorphism i·so·mor·phism (ī'sə-môr'fĭz'əm)
n.

  1. A similarity in form, as in organisms of different ancestry.

  2. A close similarity in the crystalline structure of two or more substances of similar chemical composition.

i'so·mor'phous adj.
isomorphism in Science
isomorphism
  (ī'sə-môr'fĭz'əm)   

  1. Similarity in form, as in organisms of different ancestry.

  2. A one-to-one correspondence between the elements of two sets such that the result of an operation on elements of one set corresponds to the result of the analogous operation on their images in the other set.

  3. A close similarity in the crystalline structure of two or more substances of different chemical composition. Isomorphism is seen, for example, in the group of minerals known as garnets, which can vary in chemical composition but always have the same crystal structure.


isomorphism in Technology
mathematics
A bijective map between two objects which preserves, in both directions, any structure under consideration. Thus a `group isomorphism' preserves group structure; an order isomorphism (between posets) preserves the order relation, and so on. Usually it is clear from context what sort of isomorphism is intended.
(1995-03-25)