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identical

4 syllables

Quick answer

As an adjective, identical means bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics. As a noun, it means something which has exactly the same properties as something else.

Meanings of identical

13 meanings

adjective

Bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics; indistinguishable.
Not different or other; not another or others; not different as regards self; selfsame; numerically identical.
biologyOf twins, sharing the same genetic code.
mathematicsExactly equivalent.
Exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
“rows of identical houses”
“cars identical except for their license plates”
“they wore indistinguishable hats”
Similar: indistinguishable
Being the exact same one; not any other:
“this is the identical room we stayed in before”
“saw the selfsame quotation in two newspapers”
“on this very spot”
Similar: selfsame, very
(of twins) derived from a single egg or ovum
“identical twins are monovular”
Similar: monovular
Having properties with uniform values along all axes
Coinciding exactly when superimposed
“identical triangles”
Similar: superposable

Older and rare meanings (1)

rareApproximating or approaching exact equivalence.

noun

usually pluralizedchiefly philosophySomething which has exactly the same properties as something else.
An identical twin.
poetryA rhyme on the same syllable, such as "leave" and "believe".

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).