identical
UK/ai'dentikәl/US
IELTSTOEFLB2
Definitions
adj.
Exactly the same in every detail.
完全相同的，一模一样的。
adj.
(of twins) Developed from a single egg and genetically the same.
（双胞胎）同卵的。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedidentic (the same, from Latin idem) + -al (relating to) = being the very same in every detail — stronger than 'similar' or 'equal.' If two things are identical, you cannot tell them apart.
Root identic still carries 5 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.identical twins同卵双胞胎
- 2.virtually identical几乎完全相同
- 3.almost identical近乎相同
- 4.identical to与…完全一样
Example Sentences
- 1.
The two reports were almost word-for-word identical.
- 2.
Identical twins can be hard for strangers to tell apart.
- 3.
Both machines are identical in design and performance.
Easily Confused
identical vs similar — similar means alike in some ways but not all (similar shirts in different colors). identical means the same in every detail (identical shirts). Don't say 'exactly similar' — if it's exact, it's identical.