syb·a·rite ['si-bə-,rīt] -n, adj, adv
- voluptuary, sensualist
- a native or resident of the ancient city of Sybaris
syc·a·mine ['si-kə-,mīn, -mən] -n
- a tree of the Bible that is usu. considered a mulberry ( Morus nigra)
syc·a·more ['si-kə-,mȯr] -n
- a fig tree ( Ficus sycomorus) of Africa and the Middle East that is the sycamore of Scripture and has edible fruit similar but inferior to the common fig
- a Eurasian maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus) with long racemes of showy yellowish-green flowers that is widely planted as a shade tree
- plane
- a very large spreading tree ( Platanus occidentalis) chiefly of the eastern and central U.S. with 3- to 5-lobed broadly ovate leaves
syce ['sīs] -n
- an attendant (as a groom) esp. in India
sy·cee ['sī-,sē] -n
- silver money made in the form of ingots and formerly used in China
sy·co·ni·um [sī-'kō-nē-əm] -n
- the multiple fleshy fruit of a fig in which the ovaries are borne within an enlarged succulent concave or hollow receptacle
sy·co·phan·cy ['si-kə-fən(t)-sē also 'sī- & -,fan(t)-sē] -n
- obsequious flattery
- the character or behavior of a sycophant
sy·co·phant [-fənt also -,fant] -n, adj
- a servile self-seeking flatterer
sy·co·phan·tic [,si-kə-'fan-tik also ,sī-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a sycophant : fawning, obsequious
sy·co·phant·ish [,si-kə-'fan-tish also ,sī-] -adj, adv
- sycophantic
sy·co·phant·ism ['si-kə-fən-,ti-zəm also 'sī- & -,fan-] -n
- sycophancy
sy·co·phant·ly [-lē] -adv
- in a sycophantic manner
sy·co·sis [sī-'kō-səs] -n
- a chronic inflammatory disorder of the hair follicles esp. of the bearded part of the face
sy·e·nite ['sī-ə-,nīt] -n, adj
- an igneous rock composed chiefly of feldspar
sy·li ['sē-lē] -n
- the monetary unit of Guinea from 1972 to 1986
syl·la·bary ['si-lə-,ber-ē] -n
- a table or listing of syllables
- a series or set of written characters each one of which is used to represent a syllable
syl·lab·ic [sə-'la-bik] -adj, adv
- : constituting a syllable or the nucleus of a syllable:
- not accompanied in the same syllable by a vowel
- having vowel quality more prominent than that of another vowel in the syllable
- the first vowel of a falling diphthong, as in i, is syllabic
- of, relating to, or denoting syllables
- characterized by distinct enunciation or separation of syllables
- of, relating to, or constituting a type of verse distinguished primarily by count of syllables rather than by rhythmical arrangement of accents or quantities
syllabic -n
- a syllabic character or sound
syl·lab·i·cate [sə-'la-bə-,kāt] -vt
- syllabify
syl·lab·i·ca·tion [sə-,la-bə-'kā-shən] -n
- the act, process, or method of forming or dividing words into syllables
syl·la·bic·i·ty [,si-lə-'bi-sə-tē] -n
- the state of being or the power of forming a syllable
syl·lab·i·fi·ca·tion [sə-,la-bə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- syllabication
syl·lab·i·fy [sə-'la-bə-,fī] -vt
- to form or divide into syllables
syl·la·ble ['si-lə-bəl] -n
- a unit of spoken language that is next bigger than a speech sound and consists of one or more vowel sounds alone or of a syllabic consonant alone or of either with one or more consonant sounds preceding or following
- one or more letters (as syl, la,and ble) in a word (as syl*la*ble) usu. set off from the rest of the word by a centered dot or a hyphen and roughly corresponding to the syllables of spoken language and treated as helps to pronunciation or as guides to placing hyphens at the end of a line
- the smallest conceivable expression or unit of something : jot
- sol-fa syllables
syllable [-b(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to give a number or arrangement of syllables to (a word or verse)
- to express or utter in or as if in syllables
syl·la·bub ['si-lə-,bəb] -n
- milk or cream that is curdled with an acid beverage (as wine or cider) and often sweetened and served as a drink or topping or thickened with gelatin and served as a dessert
syl·la·bus [-bəs] -n
- a summary outline of a discourse, treatise, or course of study or of examination requirements
- headnote
syl·lep·sis [sə-'lep-səs] -n, adj
- the use of a word to modify or govern syntactically two or more words with only one of which it formally agrees in gender, number, or case
- the use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense
syl·lo·gism ['si-lə-,ji-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- a deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion (as in every virtue is laudable; kindness is a virtue; therefore kindness is laudable)
- a subtle, specious, or crafty argument
- deductive reasoning
syl·lo·gist ['si-lə-jist] -n
- one who applies or is skilled in syllogistic reasoning
syl·lo·gize ['si-lə-,jīz] -vb
- to reason by means of syllogisms
- to deduce by syllogism
sylph ['silf] -n, adj
- an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus that inhabits air
- a slender graceful woman or girl
sylph·id ['sil-fəd] -n
- a young or diminutive sylph
syl·van ['sil-vən] -n
- one that frequents groves or woods
sylvan -adj
- living or located in the woods or forest
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the woods or forest
- made, shaped, or formed of woods or trees
- abounding in woods, groves, or trees : wooded
syl·vat·ic [sil-'va-tik] -adj
- sylvan
- occurring in or affecting wild animals
syl·vite ['sil-,vīt] -n
- a mineral that is a natural potassium chloride and occurs in colorless cubes or crystalline masses
sym -abbr
- symmetrical
sym·bi·ont ['sim-bē-,änt] -n
- an organism living in symbiosis
- the smaller member of a symbiotic pair
sym·bi·o·sis [,sim-bē-'ō-səs, -,bī-] -n, adj, adv
- the living together in more or less intimate association or close union of two dissimilar organisms (as in parasitism or commensalism)
- mutualism
- a cooperative relationship (as between two persons or groups)
- the symbiosis...between the resident population and the immigrants -- John Geipel
sym·bi·ote ['sim-bē-,ōt, -,bī-] -n
- symbiont
sym·bol ['sim-bəl] -n
- an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine : creed
- something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance
- a visible sign of something invisible
- the lion is a symbol of courage
- an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities
- an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed
- an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response
symbol -vb
- symbolize
sym·bol·ic [sim-'bä-lik] -adj, adv
- using, employing, or exhibiting a symbol
- consisting of or proceeding by means of symbols
- of, relating to, or constituting a symbol
- characterized by or terminating in symbols
- characterized by symbolism
symbolic logic -n
- a science of developing and representing logical principles by means of a formalized system consisting of primitive symbols, combinations of these symbols, axioms, and rules of inference
sym·bol·ise ['sim-bə-,līz] -vb, n
(variant of symbolize)
- to serve as a symbol of
- to represent, express, or identify by a symbol
- to use symbols or symbolism
sym·bol·ism ['sim-bə-,li-zəm] -n
- : the art or practice of using symbols esp. by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations: as
- artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states
- the use of conventional or traditional signs in the representation of divine beings and spirits
- a system of symbols or representations
sym·bol·ist ['sim-bə-list] -n, adj
- one who employs symbols or symbolism
- one skilled in the interpretation or explication of symbols
- one of a group of writers and artists in France after 1880 reacting against realism, concerning themselves with general truths instead of actualities, exalting the metaphysical and the mysterious, and aiming to unify and blend the arts and the functions of the senses
sym·bol·is·tic [,sim-bə-'lis-tik] -adj
- symbolic
sym·bol·i·za·tion [,sim-bə-lə-'zā-shən] -n
- an act or instance of symbolizing
- the human capacity to develop a system of meaningful symbols
sym·bol·ize ['sim-bə-,līz] -vb, n
- to serve as a symbol of
- to represent, express, or identify by a symbol
- to use symbols or symbolism
sym·bol·o·gy [sim-'bä-lə-jē] -n
- the art of expression by symbols
- the study or interpretation of symbols
- a system of symbols
sym·met·al·lism [(,)si(m)-'me-tə-,li-zəm] -n
- a system of coinage in which the unit of currency consists of a particular weight of an alloy of two or more metals
sym·met·ri·cal [sə-'me-tri-kəl] -adj, adv, n
- having, involving, or exhibiting symmetry
- having corresponding points whose connecting lines are bisected by a given point or perpendicularly bisected by a given line or plane
- being such that the terms or variables may be interchanged without altering the value, character, or truth
- R is a symmetric relation if a R b implies b R a
- capable of division by a longitudinal plane into similar halves
- having the same number of members in each whorl of floral leaves
- affecting corresponding parts simultaneously and similarly
- exhibiting symmetry in a structural formula
- being a derivative with groups substituted symmetrically in the molecule
symmetric group -n
- a permutation group that is composed of all of the permutations of nthings
symmetric matrix -n
- a matrix that is its own transpose
sym·me·trize ['si-mə-,trīz] -vt, n
- to make symmetrical
sym·me·try ['si-mə-trē] -n
- balanced proportions
- beauty of form arising from balanced proportions
- the property of being symmetrical
- correspondence in size, shape, and relative position of parts on opposite sides of a dividing line or median plane or about a center or axis
- a rigid motion of a geometric figure that determines a one-to-one mapping onto itself
- the property of remaining invariant under certain changes (as of orientation in space, of the sign of the electric charge, of parity, or of the direction of time flow) used of physical phenomena and of equations describing them
sympath- -comb form
- sympathetic nerve
sym·pa·thec·to·my [,sim-pə-'thek-tə-mē] -n, adj
- surgical interruption of sympathetic nerve pathways
sym·pa·thet·ic [,sim-pə-'the-tik] -adj, adv
- existing or operating through an affinity, interdependence, or mutual association
- appropriate to one's mood, inclinations, or disposition
- marked by kindly or pleased appreciation
- the biographer's approach was sympathetic
- given to, marked by, or arising from sympathy, compassion, friendliness, and sensitivity to others' emotions
- favorably inclined : approving
- not sympathetic to the idea
- showing empathy
- arousing sympathy or compassion
- a sympathetic role in the play
- of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
- mediated by or acting on the sympathetic nerves
- relating to musical tones produced by sympathetic vibration or to strings so tuned as to sound by sympathetic vibration
sympathetic -n
- a sympathetic structure
- sympathetic nervous system
sympathetic magic -n
- magic based on the assumption that a person or thing can be supernaturally affected through its name or an object representing it
sympathetic nervous system -n
- the part of the autonomic nervous system that contains chiefly adrenergic fibers and tends to depress secretion, decrease the tone and contractility of smooth muscle, and increase heart rate
sympathetic strike -n
- sympathy strike
sympathetic vibration -n
- a vibration produced in one body by the vibrations of exactly the same period in a neighboring body
sym·pa·thise ['sim-pə-,thīz] -vi, n
(variant of sympathize)
- to be in keeping, accord, or harmony
- to react or respond in sympathy
- to share in suffering or grief : commiserate
- sympathize with a friend in trouble
- to express such sympathy
- to be in sympathy intellectually
- sympathize with a proposal
sym·pa·thize ['sim-pə-,thīz] -vi, n
- to be in keeping, accord, or harmony
- to react or respond in sympathy
- to share in suffering or grief : commiserate
- sympathize with a friend in trouble
- to express such sympathy
- to be in sympathy intellectually
- sympathize with a proposal
sym·pa·tho·lyt·ic [,sim-pə-thō-'li-tik] -adj, n
- tending to oppose the physiological results of sympathetic nervous activity or of sympathomimetic drugs
sym·pa·tho·mi·met·ic [-mə-'me-tik, -(,)mī-] -adj, n
- simulating sympathetic nervous action in physiological effect
sym·pa·thy ['sim-pə-thē] -n
- an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other
- mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
- unity or harmony in action or effect
- every part is in complete sympathy with the scheme as a whole -- Edwin Benson
- inclination to think or feel alike : emotional or intellectual accord
- in sympathy with their goals
- feeling of loyalty : tendency to favor or support
- the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
- the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity
- have sympathy for the poor
- the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some medium
sympathy strike -n
- a strike in which the strikers have no direct grievance against their own employer but attempt to support or aid usu. another group of workers on strike
sym·pat·ric [sim-'pa-trik] -adj, adv, n
- occurring in the same area
- occupying the same geographical range without loss of identity from interbreeding
- occurring between populations that are not geographically separated
sym·phon·ic [sim-'fä-nik] -adj, adv
- harmonious, symphonious
- relating to or having the form or character of a symphony
- suggestive of a symphony esp. in form, interweaving of themes, or harmonious arrangement
symphonic poem -n
- an extended programmatic composition for symphony orchestra usu. freer in form than a symphony
sym·pho·ni·ous [sim-'fō-nē-əs] -adj, adv
- agreeing esp. in sound : harmonious
sym·pho·nist ['sim(p)-fə-nist] -n
- a member of a symphony orchestra
- a composer of symphonies
sym·pho·ny [-nē] -n
- consonance of sounds
- ritornello
- sinfonia
- a usu. long and complex sonata for symphony orchestra
- a musical composition (as for organ) resembling such a symphony in complexity or variety
- consonance or harmony of color (as in a painting)
- symphony orchestra
- a symphony orchestra concert
- something that in its harmonious complexity or variety suggests a symphonic composition
symphony orchestra -n
- a large orchestra of winds, strings, and percussion that plays symphonic works
sym·phy·se·al [,sim(p)-fə-'sē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting a symphysis
sym·phy·sis ['sim(p)-fə-səs] -n
- an immovable or more or less movable articulation of various bones in the median plane of the body
- an articulation in which the bony surfaces are connected by pads of fibrous cartilage without a synovial membrane
sym·po·di·al [sim-'pō-dē-əl] -adj
- having or involving the formation of an apparent main axis from successive secondary axes
- sympodial branching of a cyme
sym·po·si·ast [-zē-,ast, -əst] -n
- a contributor to a symposium
sym·po·sium [sim-'pō-zē-əm also -zh(ē-)əm] -n
- a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation
- a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas
- a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics
- a collection of opinions on a subject
- one published by a periodical
- discussion
symp·tom ['sim(p)-təm] -n, adj
- subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance
- something that indicates the presence of bodily disorder
- an evident reaction by a plant to a pathogen
- something that indicates the existence of something else
- symptom s of an inner turmoil
- a slight indication : trace
symp·tom·at·ic [,sim(p)-tə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv
- being a symptom of a disease
- having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
- symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
- concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
- characteristic, indicative
- his behavior was symptomatic of his character
symp·tom·atol·o·gy [,sim(p)-tə-mə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv
- the symptom complex of a disease
- a branch of medical science concerned with symptoms of diseases
syn- -prefix
- with : along with : together
- at the same time
syn·aes·the·sia [,si-nəs-'thē-zh(ē-)ə] -n, adj
(variant of synesthesia)
- a concomitant sensation
- a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated
- the condition marked by the experience of such sensations
syn·a·gogue ['si-nə-,gäg] -n, adj
- a Jewish congregation
- the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation
syn·ap·o·mor·phy [(,)si-'na-pə-,mȯr-fē] -n
- a character or trait that is shared by two or more taxonomic groups and is derived through evolution from a common ancestral form
syn·apse ['si-,naps, sə-'naps] -n
- the point at which a nervous impulse passes from one neuron to another
synapse -vi
- to form a synapse
- to come together in synapsis
syn·ap·sid [sə-'nap-səd] -n, adj
- any of a subclass (Synapsida) of extinct chiefly Permian and Triassic reptiles (as the pelycosaurs) that resembled mammals, had a single pair of lateral temporal skull openings, and are usu. held to be ancestral to mammals
syn·ap·sis [sə-'nap-səs] -n
- the association of homologous chromosomes that is characteristic of the first meiotic prophase
syn·ap·tic [sə-'nap-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a synapsis
- of or relating to a synapse
syn·ap·to·ne·mal complex [sə-,nap-tə-'nē-məl-] -n
- a complex tripartite protein structure that spans the region between synapsed chromosomes in meiotic prophase called also syn*ap*ti*ne*mal complex s-nap-t-ne-ml-
syn·ap·to·some [sə-'nap-tə-,sōm] -n, adj
- a nerve ending that is isolated from homogenized nerve tissue (as of the brain)
syn·ar·thro·di·al [,sin-är-'thrō-dē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a synarthrosis
syn·ar·thro·sis [-'thrō-səs] -n
- an immovable articulation in which the bones are united by intervening fibrous connective tissues
sync ['siŋk] -vt
- synchronize
- synchronization, synchronism
- out of sync with the world
syn·car·pous [(,)sin-'kär-pəs] -adj, n
- having the carpels of the gynoecium united in a compound ovary
syn·cat·e·gor·e·mat·ic [,sin-,ka-tə-,gȯr-ə-'ma-tik, -,gȯr-ē-] -adj, adv
- forming a meaningful expression only in conjunction with a denotative expression (as a content word)
- logical operators and function words are syncategorematic
syn·chro ['siŋ-(,)krō, 'sin-] -adj
- adapted to synchronization
synchro -n
- synchronized swimming
synchro- -comb form
- synchronized : synchronous
syn·chro·cy·clo·tron [,siŋ-(,)krō-'sī-klə-,trän, ,sin-] -n
- a modified cyclotron that achieves greater energies for the charged particles by compensating for the variation in mass that the particles experience with increasing velocity
syn·chro·mesh ['siŋ-krō-,mesh, 'sin-] -adj, n
- designed for effecting synchronized shifting of gears
syn·chro·ne·ity [,siŋ-krə-'nē-ə-tē, ,sin-, -'nā-] -n
- the state of being synchronous
syn·chron·ic [sin-'krä-nik, siŋ-] -adj, adv
- synchronous
- descriptive
- concerned with events existing in a limited time period and ignoring historical antecedents
syn·chro·nic·i·ty [,siŋ-krə-'ni-sə-tē, ,sin-] -n
- the quality or fact of being synchronous
- the coincidental occurrence of events and esp. psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality used esp. in the psychology of C. G. Jung
syn·chro·ni·sa·tion [,siŋ-krə-nə-'zā-shən, ,sin-] -n
(variant of synchronization)
- the act or result of synchronizing
- the state of being synchronous
syn·chro·nism ['siŋ-krə-,ni-zəm, 'sin-] -n, adj
- the quality or state of being synchronous : simultaneousness
- chronological arrangement of historical events and personages so as to indicate coincidence or coexistence
- a table showing such concurrences
syn·chro·ni·za·tion [,siŋ-krə-nə-'zā-shən, ,sin-] -n
- the act or result of synchronizing
- the state of being synchronous
syn·chro·nize ['siŋ-krə-,nīz, 'sin-] -vb, n
- to happen at the same time
- to represent or arrange (events) to indicate coincidence or coexistence
- to make synchronous in operation
- to make (motion-picture sound) exactly simultaneous with the action
synchronized swimming -n
- swimming in which the movements of one or more swimmers are synchronized with a musical accompaniment so as to form changing patterns
syn·chro·nous ['siŋ-krə-nəs, 'sin-] -adj, adv, n
- happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time
- recurring or operating at exactly the same periods
- involving or indicating synchronism
- having the same period
- having the same period and phase
- geostationary
- of, used in, or being digital communication (as between computers) in which a common timing signal is established that dictates when individual bits can be transmitted and which allows for very high rates of data transfer
synchronous motor -n
- an electric motor having a speed strictly proportional to the frequency of the operating current
syn·chro·ny ['siŋ-krə-nē, 'sin-] -n
- synchronistic occurrence, arrangement, or treatment
syn·chro·scope [-,skōp] -n
- any of several devices for showing whether two associated machines or moving parts are operating in synchronism with each other
syn·chro·tron ['siŋ-krə-,trän, 'sin-] -n
- an apparatus for imparting very high speeds to charged particles by means of a combination of a high-frequency electric field and a low-frequency magnetic field
- synchrotron radiation
synchrotron radiation -n
- radiation emitted by high-energy charged relativistic particles (as electrons) when they are accelerated by a magnetic field (as in a nebula)
syn·cli·nal [(,)sin-'klī-nᵊl] -adj
- inclined down from opposite directions so as to meet
- having or relating to a folded rock structure in which the sides dip toward a common line or plane
syn·cline ['sin-,klīn] -n
- a trough of stratified rock in which the beds dip toward each other from either side
syn·co·pate ['siŋ-kə-,pāt, 'sin-] -vt, n
- to shorten or produce by syncope
- syncopate suppose to s'pose
- to cut short : clip, abbreviate
- to modify or affect (musical rhythm) by syncopation
syncopated -adj
- cut short : abbreviated
- marked by or exhibiting syncopation
syn·co·pa·tion [,siŋ-kə-'pā-shən, ,sin-] -n, adj
- a temporary displacement of the regular metrical accent in music caused typically by stressing the weak beat
- a syncopated rhythm, passage, or dance step
syn·co·pe ['siŋ-kə-(,)pē, 'sin-] -n, adj
- loss of consciousness resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain : faint
- the loss of one or more sounds or letters in the interior of a word (as in fo'c'slefor forecastle)
syn·cret·ic [sin-'kre-tik, siŋ-] -adj
- characterized or brought about by syncretism : syncretistic
syn·cre·tise ['siŋ-krə-,tīz, 'sin-] -vt
(variant of syncretize)
- to attempt to unite and harmonize esp. without critical examination or logical unity
syn·cre·tism ['siŋ-krə-,ti-zəm, 'sin-] -n, n or adj, adj
- the combination of different forms of belief or practice
- the fusion of two or more orig. different inflectional forms
syn·cre·tize ['siŋ-krə-,tīz, 'sin-] -vt
- to attempt to unite and harmonize esp. without critical examination or logical unity
syn·cy·tium [sin-'si-sh(ē-)əm] -n, adj
- a multinucleate mass of cytoplasm resulting from fusion of cells
- coenocyte
syn·dac·ty·lism [(,)sin-'dak-tə-,li-zəm] -n
- syndactyly
syn·dac·ty·ly [-lē] -n
- a union of two or more digits that is normal in some animals (as various marsupials) and occurs as a human hereditary disorder marked by webbing of two or more fingers or toes
syn·des·mo·sis [,sin-,dez-'mō-səs, -,des-] -n
- an articulation in which the contiguous surfaces of the bones are rough and are bound together by a ligament
syn·det·ic [sin-'de-tik] -adj, adv
- connective, connecting
- marked by a conjunctive
syn·dic ['sin-dik] -n
- a municipal magistrate in some countries
- an agent of a university or corporation
syn·di·cal [-di-kəl] -adj
- of or relating to a syndic or to a committee that assumes the powers of a syndic
- of or relating to syndicalism
syn·di·cal·ism ['sin-di-kə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n
- a revolutionary doctrine by which workers seize control of the economy and the government by direct means (as a general strike)
- a system of economic organization in which industries are owned and managed by the workers
- a theory of government based on functional rather than territorial representation
syn·di·cate ['sin-di-kət] -n
- a council or body of syndics
- the office or jurisdiction of a syndic
- an association of persons officially authorized to undertake a duty or negotiate business
- a group of persons or concerns who combine to carry out a particular transaction or project
- cartel
- a loose association of racketeers in control of organized crime
- a business concern that sells materials for publication in a number of newspapers or periodicals simultaneously
- a group of newspapers under one management
- to subject to or manage as a syndicate
- to sell (as a cartoon) to a syndicate or for publication in many newspapers or periodicals at once
- to sell the work of (as a writer) in this way
- to sell (as a series of television programs) directly to local stations
- to unite to form a syndicate
syn·drome ['sin-,drōm also -drəm] -n
- a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition
- a set of concurrent things (as emotions or actions) that usu. form an identifiable pattern
syne ['sīn] -adv
- since then : ago
- since
syn·ec·do·che [sə-'nek-də-(,)kē] -n, adj, adv
- a figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (as fifty sailfor fifty ships), the whole for a part (as societyfor high society), the species for the genus (as cutthroatfor assassin), the genus for the species (as a creaturefor a man), or the name of the material for the thing made (as boardsfor stage)
syn·ecol·o·gy [,si-ni-'kä-lə-jē, ,si-ne-] -n, adj
- a branch of ecology that deals with the structure, development, and distribution of ecological communities
syn·er·e·sis [sə-'ner-ə-səs, -'nir-, esp for 2 ,si-nə-'rē-] -n
- synizesis
- the separation of liquid from a gel caused by contraction
syn·er·get·ic [,si-nər-'je-tik] -adj
- synergic
syn·er·gic [sə-'nər-jik] -adj, adv
- working together : cooperating
syn·er·gid [sə-'nər-jəd, 'si-nər-] -n
- one of two small cells lying near the micropyle of the embryo sac of an angiosperm
syn·er·gism ['si-nər-,ji-zəm] -n
- interaction of discrete agencies (as industrial firms), agents (as drugs), or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects
syn·er·gist [-jist] -n
- something (as a chemical or a muscle) that enhances the effectiveness of an active agent
- either member of a synergistic pair
syn·er·gis·tic [,si-nər-'jis-tik] -adj, adv
- having the capacity to act in synergism
- of, relating to, or resembling synergism
syn·er·gy ['si-nər-jē] -n
- synergism
- combined action or operation
- a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (as resources or efforts)
syn·e·sis ['si-nə-səs] -n
- a grammatical construction in which agreement or reference is according to sense rather than strict syntax (as anyoneand themin if anyone calls, tell them I am out)
syn·es·the·sia [,si-nəs-'thē-zh(ē-)ə] -n, adj
- a concomitant sensation
- a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated
- the condition marked by the experience of such sensations
syn·es·thete ['si-nəs-,thēt] -n
- a person affected with synesthesia
syn·fu·el ['sin-,fyü(-ə)l] -n
- a liquid or gaseous fuel derived esp. from a fossil fuel that is a solid (as coal) or part of a solid (as tar sand or oil shale)
syn·ga·my ['siŋ-gə-mē] -n
- sexual reproduction by union of gametes : fertilization
syn·gas ['sin-,gas] -n
- synthesis gas
syn·ge·ne·ic [,sin-jə-'nē-ik] -adj
- involving, derived from, or being genetically identical or similar individuals of the same species esp. with respect to antigenic interaction
- grafts between syngeneic mice
syn·i·ze·sis [,si-nə-'zē-səs] -n
- contraction of two syllables into one by uniting in pronunciation two adjacent vowels
syn·od ['si-nəd also -,näd] -n, adj
- : an ecclesiastical governing or advisory council: as
- an assembly of bishops in the Roman Catholic Church
- the governing assembly of an Episcopal province
- a Presbyterian governing body ranking between the presbytery and the general assembly
- a regional or national organization of Lutheran congregations
- the ecclesiastical district governed by a synod
syn·od·ic [sə-'nä-dik] -adj
- of or relating to a synod : synodal
- relating to conjunction
- relating to the period between two successive conjunctions of the same celestial bodies (as the moon and the sun)
synodic month -n
- a lunar month
syn·o·nym ['si-nə-,nim] -n, adj
- one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses
- a word or phrase that by association is held to embody something (as a concept or quality)
- a tyrant whose name has become a synonym for oppression
- metonym
- one of two or more scientific names used to designate the same taxonomic group
syn·on·y·mist [sə-'nä-nə-mist] -n
- one who lists, studies, or discriminates synonyms
syn·on·y·mize [-,mīz] -vt
- to give or analyze the synonyms of (a word)
- to provide (as a dictionary) with synonymies
- to demonstrate (a taxonomic name) to be a synonym
syn·on·y·mous [-məs] -adj, adv
- having the character of a synonym
- alike in meaning or significance
- having the same connotations, implications, or reference
- to runners, Boston is synonymous with marathon -- Runners World
syn·on·y·my [-mē] -n
- a list or collection of synonyms often defined and discriminated from each other
- the study or discrimination of synonyms
- the scientific names that have been used to designate the same taxonomic group (as a species)
- a list of these
- the quality or state of being synonymous
syn·op·sis [sə-'näp-səs] -n
- a condensed statement or outline (as of a narrative or treatise) : abstract
- the abbreviated conjugation of a verb in one person only
syn·op·size [-,sīz] -vt
- epitomize
- to make a synopsis of (as a novel)
syn·op·tic [sə-'näp-tik] -adj, adv
- affording a general view of a whole
- manifesting or characterized by comprehensiveness or breadth of view
- presenting or taking the same or common view
- of or relating to the first three Gospels of the New Testament
- relating to or displaying conditions (as of the atmosphere or weather) as they exist simultaneously over a broad area
syn·os·to·sis [,si-,näs-'tō-səs] -n
- union of two or more separate bones to form a single bone
sy·no·via [sə-'nō-vē-ə, sī-] -n
- synovial fluid
sy·no·vi·al [-vē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or secreting synovial fluid
- lined with synovial membrane
synovial fluid -n
- a transparent viscid lubricating fluid secreted by a membrane of an articulation, bursa, or tendon sheath
synovial joint -n
- diarthrosis
sy·no·vi·tis [,sī-nə-'vī-təs] -n
- inflammation of a synovial membrane
syn·tac·tic [sin-'tak-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or according to the rules of syntax or syntactics
syn·tac·ti·cian [,sin-,tak-'ti-shən] -n
- a specialist in syntax
syn·tac·tics [-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a branch of semiotic that deals with the formal relations between signs or expressions in abstraction from their signification and their interpreters
syn·tagm [sin-'tag-mə] -n, adj
(variant of syntagma)
- a syntactic element
syn·tag·ma [sin-'tag-mə] -n, adj
- a syntactic element
syn·tax ['sin-,taks] -n
- the way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses)
- the part of grammar dealing with this
- a connected or orderly system : harmonious arrangement of parts or elements
- the syntax of classical architecture
- syntactics esp. as dealing with the formal properties of languages or calculi
synth ['sin(t)th] -n
- synthesizer
syn·the·sis ['sin(t)-thə-səs] -n
- the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole
- the production of a substance by the union of chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds or by the degradation of a complex compound
- the combining of often diverse conceptions into a coherent whole
- the complex so formed
- deductive reasoning
- the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis into a higher stage of truth
- the frequent and systematic use of inflected forms as a characteristic device of a language
synthesis gas -n
- a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen used esp. in chemical synthesis
syn·the·size [-,sīz] -vb
- to combine or produce by synthesis
- to make a synthesis of
- to produce (as music) by an electronic synthesizer
- to make a synthesis
syn·the·siz·er [-,sī-zər] -n
- one that synthesizes
- an expert synthesizer of diverse views
- a usu. computerized electronic apparatus for the production and control of sound (as for producing music)
syn·the·tase ['sin-thə-,tās, -,tāz] -n
- an enzyme that catalyzes the linking together of two molecules usu. using the energy derived from the concurrent splitting off of a pyrophosphate group from a triphosphate (as ATP) called also ligase
syn·thet·ic [sin-'the-tik] -adj, adv
- relating to or involving synthesis : not analytic
- the synthetic aspects of a philosophy
- attributing to a subject something determined by observation rather than analysis of the nature of the subject and not resulting in self-contradiction if negated
- characterized by frequent and systematic use of inflected forms to express grammatical relationships
- of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis
- produced artificially
- of or relating to a synfuel
- devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities
- factitious, bogus
synthetic -n
- something resulting from synthesis rather than occurring naturally
- a product (as a drug or plastic) of chemical synthesis
synthetic division -n
- a simplified method for dividing a polynomial by another polynomial of the first degree by writing down only the coefficients of the several powers of the variable and changing the sign of the constant term in the divisor so as to replace the usual subtractions by additions
synthetic geometry -n
- elementary euclidean geometry or projective geometry as distinguished from analytic geometry
synthetic resin -n
- resin
syph ['sif] -n
- syphilis
syph·i·lis ['si-f(ə-)ləs] -n, adj or n
- a chronic contagious usu. venereal and often congenital disease caused by a spirochete ( Treponema pallidum) and if left untreated producing chancres, rashes, and systemic lesions in a clinical course with three stages continued over many years
syphon ['sī-fən] -n
(variant of siphon)
- a tube bent to form two legs of unequal length by which a liquid can be transferred to a lower level over an intermediate elevation by the pressure of the atmosphere in forcing the liquid up the shorter branch of the tube immersed in it while the excess of weight of the liquid in the longer branch when once filled causes a continuous flow
- a bottle for holding aerated water that is driven out through a bent tube in its neck by the pressure of the gas when a valve in the tube is opened
- any of various tubular organs in animals and esp. mollusks or arthropods that are used for drawing in or ejecting fluids
Sy·rah [sē-'rä] -n
- a grape whose skin has a dark blue to bluish-black color that was orig. grown in the northern valley of the Rhone and is now widely grown elsewhere (as in California and Australia)
- a vine producing Syrah grapes
- a red wine made from Syrah grapes
sy·rette [sə-'ret] -n
- a small collapsible tube fitted with a hypodermic needle for injecting a single dose of a medicinal agent (as morphine)
Syr·i·ac ['sir-ē-,ak] -n, adj
- a literary language based on an eastern Aramaic dialect and used as the literary and liturgical language by several Eastern Christian churches
- Aramaic spoken by Christian communities
Syr·i·an hamster ['sir-ē-ən-] -n
- golden hamster
sy·rin·ga [sə-'riŋ-gə] -n
- mock orange
sy·ringe [sə-'rinj also 'sir-inj] -n
- : a device used to inject fluids into or withdraw them from something (as the body or its cavities): as
- a device that consists of a nozzle of varying length and a compressible rubber bulb and is used for injection or irrigation
- an instrument (as for the injection of medicine or the withdrawal of bodily fluids) that consists of a hollow barrel fitted with a plunger and a hollow needle
- a gravity device consisting of a reservoir fitted with a long rubber tube ending with an exchangeable nozzle that is used for irrigation of the vagina or bowel
syringe -vt
- to irrigate or spray with or as if with a syringe
sy·rin·go·my·e·lia [sə-,riŋ-gō-mī-'ē-lē-ə] -n, adj
- a chronic progressive disease of the spinal cord associated with sensory disturbances, muscle atrophy, and spasticity
syr·inx ['sir-iŋ(k)s] -n
- panpipe
- the vocal organ of birds that is a special modification of the lower part of the trachea or of the bronchi or of both
syr·phid fly ['sər-fəd-, 'sir-] -n
- hoverfly
syr·up ['sər-əp, 'sir-əp, 'sə-rəp] -n, adj
- a thick sticky solution of sugar and water often flavored or medicated
- the concentrated juice of a fruit or plant
- cloying sweetness or sentimentality
sys·op ['sis-(,)äp] -n
- the administrator of a computer bulletin board
syst -abbr
- system
sys·tal·tic [sis-'tȯl-tik, -'tal-] -adj
- marked by regular contraction and dilatation : pulsing
sys·tem ['sis-təm] -n, adj
- : a regularly interacting or interdependent group of items forming a unified whole: as
- a group of interacting bodies under the influence of related forces
- an assemblage of substances that is in or tends to equilibrium
- a group of body organs that together perform one or more vital functions
- the body considered as a functional unit
- a group of related natural objects or forces
- a group of devices or artificial objects or an organization forming a network esp. for distributing something or serving a common purpose
- a major division of rocks usu. larger than a series and including all formed during a period or era
- a form of social, economic, or political organization or practice
- an organized set of doctrines, ideas, or principles usu. intended to explain the arrangement or working of a systematic whole
- the Newtonian system of mechanics
- an organized or established procedure
- the touch system of typing
- a manner of classifying, symbolizing, or schematizing
- harmonious arrangement or pattern : order
- bring system out of confusion -- Ellen Glasgow
- an organized society or social situation regarded as stultifying or oppressive : establishment usu. used with the
sys·tem·at·ic [,sis-tə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv, n
- relating to or consisting of a system
- presented or formulated as a coherent body of ideas or principles
- methodical in procedure or plan
- marked by thoroughness and regularity
- of, relating to, or concerned with classification
- taxonomic
systematic error -n
- an error that is not determined by chance but is introduced by an inaccuracy (as of observation or measurement) inherent in the system
sys·tem·at·ics [,sis-tə-'ma-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr
- the science of classification
- a system of classification
- the classification and study of organisms with regard to their natural relationships : taxonomy
systematic theology -n
- a branch of theology concerned with summarizing the doctrinal traditions of a religion (as Christianity) esp. with a view to relating the traditions convincingly to the religion's present-day setting
sys·tem·a·tise ['sis-tə-mə-,tīz] -vt, n
(variant of systematize)
- to arrange in accord with a definite plan or scheme : order systematically
- the need to systematize their work
sys·tem·a·tism ['sis-tə-mə-,ti-zəm, sis-'te-mə-] -n
- the practice of forming intellectual systems
sys·tem·a·tist ['sis-tə-mə-tist, sis-'te-mə-] -n
- a maker or follower of a system
- a specialist in taxonomy : taxonomist
sys·tem·a·tize ['sis-tə-mə-,tīz] -vt, n
- to arrange in accord with a definite plan or scheme : order systematically
- the need to systematize their work
sys·tem·ic [sis-'te-mik] -adj, adv
- : of, relating to, or common to a system: as
- affecting the body generally
- supplying those parts of the body that receive blood through the aorta rather than through the pulmonary artery
- of, relating to, or being a pesticide that as used is harmless to the plant or higher animal but when absorbed into its sap or bloodstream makes the entire organism toxic to pests (as an insect or fungus)
systemic -n
- a systemic pesticide
systemic lupus er·y·the·ma·to·sus [-,er-ə-,thē-mə-'tō-səs] -n
- an inflammatory connective tissue disease that is often held to be an autoimmune disease and that occurs chiefly in women, is characterized esp. by fever, skin rash, and arthritis, often by acute hemolytic anemia, by small hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, by inflammation of the pericardium, and in serious cases by involvement of the kidneys and central nervous system
sys·tem·ize ['sis-tə-,mīz] -vt, n
- systematize
systems analysis -n
- the act, process, or profession of studying an activity (as a procedure, a business, or a physiological function) typically by mathematical means in order to define its goals or purposes and to discover operations and procedures for accomplishing them most efficiently
sys·to·le ['sis-tə-(,)lē] -n, adj
- a rhythmically recurrent contraction
- the contraction of the heart by which the blood is forced onward and the circulation kept up
syz·y·gy ['si-zə-jē] -n
- the nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies (as the sun, moon, and earth during a solar or lunar eclipse) in a gravitational system