canonical form

noun canonical forms

1. countable, uncountable A standard or normal presentation of a mathematical entity or a text string, etc. A canonical form is an element of a set of representatives of equivalence classes of forms such that there is a function or procedure which projects every element of each equivalence class onto that one element, the canonical form of that equivalence class. The canonical form is expected to be simpl
2. countable, physical, uncountable Any of a set of representations of the resonance structure of a molecule each of which contributes to the real structure; a contributing structure.
3. countable, rare, uncountable Synonym of dictionary form.

   Similar: dictionary form

Similar: normal form, standard form, citation form, dictionary form, basic form