canonical form

Noun

canonical form (countable and uncountable, plural canonical forms)

1. 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...
2. (physical) 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. (rare) Synonym of dictionary form.

   Synonyms:

   dictionary form