syb·a·rite ['si-bə-,rīt] -n, adj, adv

  1. voluptuary, sensualist
  2. a native or resident of the ancient city of Sybaris

syc·a·mine ['si-kə-,mīn, -mən] -n

  1. a tree of the Bible that is usu. considered a mulberry ( Morus nigra)

syc·a·more ['si-kə-,mȯr] -n

  1. 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
  2. a Eurasian maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus) with long racemes of showy yellowish-green flowers that is widely planted as a shade tree
  3. plane
  4. 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

  1. an attendant (as a groom) esp. in India

sy·cee ['sī-,sē] -n

  1. silver money made in the form of ingots and formerly used in China

sy·co·ni·um [sī-'kō-nē-əm] -n

  1. 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

  1. obsequious flattery
  2. the character or behavior of a sycophant

sy·co·phant [-fənt also -,fant] -n, adj

  1. a servile self-seeking flatterer

sy·co·phan·tic [,si-kə-'fan-tik also ,sī-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sycophant : fawning, obsequious
    • sycophantic compliments

sy·co·phant·ish [,si-kə-'fan-tish also ,sī-] -adj, adv

  1. sycophantic

sy·co·phant·ism ['si-kə-fən-,ti-zəm also 'sī- & -,fan-] -n

  1. sycophancy

sy·co·phant·ly [-lē] -adv

  1. in a sycophantic manner

sy·co·sis [sī-'kō-səs] -n

  1. a chronic inflammatory disorder of the hair follicles esp. of the bearded part of the face

sy·e·nite ['sī-ə-,nīt] -n, adj

  1. an igneous rock composed chiefly of feldspar

sy·li ['sē-lē] -n

  1. the monetary unit of Guinea from 1972 to 1986

syl·la·bary ['si-lə-,ber-ē] -n

  1. a table or listing of syllables
  2. 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

  1. : constituting a syllable or the nucleus of a syllable:
  2. not accompanied in the same syllable by a vowel
    • a syllabic consonant
  3. 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
  4. of, relating to, or denoting syllables
    • syllabic accent
  5. characterized by distinct enunciation or separation of syllables
  6. 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

  1. a syllabic character or sound

syl·lab·i·cate [sə-'la-bə-,kāt] -vt

  1. syllabify

syl·lab·i·ca·tion [sə-,la-bə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act, process, or method of forming or dividing words into syllables

syl·la·bic·i·ty [,si-lə-'bi-sə-tē] -n

  1. the state of being or the power of forming a syllable

syl·lab·i·fi·ca·tion [sə-,la-bə-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. syllabication

syl·lab·i·fy [sə-'la-bə-,fī] -vt

  1. to form or divide into syllables

syl·la·ble ['si-lə-bəl] -n

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. the smallest conceivable expression or unit of something : jot
  4. sol-fa syllables

syllable [-b(ə-)liŋ] -vt

  1. to give a number or arrangement of syllables to (a word or verse)
  2. to express or utter in or as if in syllables

syl·la·bub ['si-lə-,bəb] -n

  1. 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

  1. a summary outline of a discourse, treatise, or course of study or of examination requirements
  2. headnote

syl·lep·sis [sə-'lep-səs] -n, adj

  1. 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
  2. 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

  1. 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)
  2. a subtle, specious, or crafty argument
  3. deductive reasoning

syl·lo·gist ['si-lə-jist] -n

  1. one who applies or is skilled in syllogistic reasoning

syl·lo·gize ['si-lə-,jīz] -vb

  1. to reason by means of syllogisms
  2. to deduce by syllogism
    • syllogize s moral laws

sylph ['silf] -n, adj

  1. an elemental being in the theory of Paracelsus that inhabits air
  2. a slender graceful woman or girl

sylph·id ['sil-fəd] -n

  1. a young or diminutive sylph

syl·van ['sil-vən] -n

  1. one that frequents groves or woods

sylvan -adj

  1. living or located in the woods or forest
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of the woods or forest
  3. made, shaped, or formed of woods or trees
  4. abounding in woods, groves, or trees : wooded

syl·vat·ic [sil-'va-tik] -adj

  1. sylvan
    • sylvatic rodents
  2. occurring in or affecting wild animals
    • sylvatic diseases

syl·vite ['sil-,vīt] -n

  1. a mineral that is a natural potassium chloride and occurs in colorless cubes or crystalline masses

sym -abbr

  1. symmetrical

sym·bi·ont ['sim-bē-,änt] -n

  1. an organism living in symbiosis
  2. the smaller member of a symbiotic pair

sym·bi·o·sis [,sim-bē-'ō-səs, -,bī-] -n, adj, adv

  1. the living together in more or less intimate association or close union of two dissimilar organisms (as in parasitism or commensalism)
  2. mutualism
  3. 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

  1. symbiont

sym·bol ['sim-bəl] -n

  1. an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine : creed
  2. something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance
  3. a visible sign of something invisible
    • the lion is a symbol of courage
  4. an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities
  5. an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed
    • phallic symbol s
  6. an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response

symbol -vb

  1. symbolize

sym·bol·ic [sim-'bä-lik] -adj, adv

  1. using, employing, or exhibiting a symbol
  2. consisting of or proceeding by means of symbols
  3. of, relating to, or constituting a symbol
  4. characterized by or terminating in symbols
    • symbolic thinking
  5. characterized by symbolism
    • a symbolic dance

symbolic logic -n

  1. 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)

  1. to serve as a symbol of
  2. to represent, express, or identify by a symbol
  3. to use symbols or symbolism

sym·bol·ism ['sim-bə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. : 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
  2. artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states
  3. the use of conventional or traditional signs in the representation of divine beings and spirits
  4. a system of symbols or representations

sym·bol·ist ['sim-bə-list] -n, adj

  1. one who employs symbols or symbolism
  2. one skilled in the interpretation or explication of symbols
  3. 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

  1. symbolic

sym·bol·i·za·tion [,sim-bə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. an act or instance of symbolizing
  2. the human capacity to develop a system of meaningful symbols

sym·bol·ize ['sim-bə-,līz] -vb, n

  1. to serve as a symbol of
  2. to represent, express, or identify by a symbol
  3. to use symbols or symbolism

sym·bol·o·gy [sim-'bä-lə-jē] -n

  1. the art of expression by symbols
  2. the study or interpretation of symbols
  3. a system of symbols

sym·met·al·lism [(,)si(m)-'me-tə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. 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

  1. having, involving, or exhibiting symmetry
  2. having corresponding points whose connecting lines are bisected by a given point or perpendicularly bisected by a given line or plane
    • symmetrical curves
  3. being such that the terms or variables may be interchanged without altering the value, character, or truth
    • symmetric equations
    • R is a symmetric relation if a R b implies b R a
  4. capable of division by a longitudinal plane into similar halves
    • symmetrical plant parts
  5. having the same number of members in each whorl of floral leaves
    • symmetrical flowers
  6. affecting corresponding parts simultaneously and similarly
    • symmetrical rash
  7. exhibiting symmetry in a structural formula
  8. being a derivative with groups substituted symmetrically in the molecule

symmetric group -n

  1. a permutation group that is composed of all of the permutations of nthings

symmetric matrix -n

  1. a matrix that is its own transpose

sym·me·trize ['si-mə-,trīz] -vt, n

  1. to make symmetrical

sym·me·try ['si-mə-trē] -n

  1. balanced proportions
  2. beauty of form arising from balanced proportions
  3. the property of being symmetrical
  4. 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
  5. a rigid motion of a geometric figure that determines a one-to-one mapping onto itself
  6. 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

  1. sympathetic nerve
    • sympatho lytic

sym·pa·thec·to·my [,sim-pə-'thek-tə-mē] -n, adj

  1. surgical interruption of sympathetic nerve pathways

sym·pa·thet·ic [,sim-pə-'the-tik] -adj, adv

  1. existing or operating through an affinity, interdependence, or mutual association
  2. appropriate to one's mood, inclinations, or disposition
  3. marked by kindly or pleased appreciation
    • the biographer's approach was sympathetic
  4. given to, marked by, or arising from sympathy, compassion, friendliness, and sensitivity to others' emotions
    • a sympathetic gesture
  5. favorably inclined : approving
    • not sympathetic to the idea
  6. showing empathy
  7. arousing sympathy or compassion
    • a sympathetic role in the play
  8. of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
  9. mediated by or acting on the sympathetic nerves
  10. relating to musical tones produced by sympathetic vibration or to strings so tuned as to sound by sympathetic vibration

sympathetic -n

  1. a sympathetic structure
  2. sympathetic nervous system

sympathetic magic -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. sympathy strike

sympathetic vibration -n

  1. 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)

  1. to be in keeping, accord, or harmony
  2. to react or respond in sympathy
  3. to share in suffering or grief : commiserate
    • sympathize with a friend in trouble
  4. to express such sympathy
  5. to be in sympathy intellectually
    • sympathize with a proposal

sym·pa·thize ['sim-pə-,thīz] -vi, n

  1. to be in keeping, accord, or harmony
  2. to react or respond in sympathy
  3. to share in suffering or grief : commiserate
    • sympathize with a friend in trouble
  4. to express such sympathy
  5. to be in sympathy intellectually
    • sympathize with a proposal

sym·pa·tho·lyt·ic [,sim-pə-thō-'li-tik] -adj, n

  1. tending to oppose the physiological results of sympathetic nervous activity or of sympathomimetic drugs
    • a sympatholytic agent

sym·pa·tho·mi·met·ic [-mə-'me-tik, -(,)mī-] -adj, n

  1. simulating sympathetic nervous action in physiological effect
    • sympathomimetic drugs

sym·pa·thy ['sim-pə-thē] -n

  1. an affinity, association, or relationship between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the other
  2. mutual or parallel susceptibility or a condition brought about by it
  3. unity or harmony in action or effect
    • every part is in complete sympathy with the scheme as a whole -- Edwin Benson
  4. inclination to think or feel alike : emotional or intellectual accord
    • in sympathy with their goals
  5. feeling of loyalty : tendency to favor or support
    • republican sympathies
  6. the act or capacity of entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another
  7. the feeling or mental state brought about by such sensitivity
    • have sympathy for the poor
  8. the correlation existing between bodies capable of communicating their vibrational energy to one another through some medium

sympathy strike -n

  1. 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

  1. occurring in the same area
  2. occupying the same geographical range without loss of identity from interbreeding
    • sympatric species
  3. occurring between populations that are not geographically separated
    • sympatric speciation

sym·phon·ic [sim-'fä-nik] -adj, adv

  1. harmonious, symphonious
  2. relating to or having the form or character of a symphony
    • symphonic music
  3. suggestive of a symphony esp. in form, interweaving of themes, or harmonious arrangement
    • a symphonic drama

symphonic poem -n

  1. an extended programmatic composition for symphony orchestra usu. freer in form than a symphony

sym·pho·ni·ous [sim-'fō-nē-əs] -adj, adv

  1. agreeing esp. in sound : harmonious

sym·pho·nist ['sim(p)-fə-nist] -n

  1. a member of a symphony orchestra
  2. a composer of symphonies

sym·pho·ny [-nē] -n

  1. consonance of sounds
  2. ritornello
  3. sinfonia
  4. a usu. long and complex sonata for symphony orchestra
  5. a musical composition (as for organ) resembling such a symphony in complexity or variety
  6. consonance or harmony of color (as in a painting)
  7. symphony orchestra
  8. a symphony orchestra concert
  9. something that in its harmonious complexity or variety suggests a symphonic composition
    • a symphony of flavors

symphony orchestra -n

  1. a large orchestra of winds, strings, and percussion that plays symphonic works

sym·phy·se·al [,sim(p)-fə-'sē-əl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a symphysis

sym·phy·sis ['sim(p)-fə-səs] -n

  1. an immovable or more or less movable articulation of various bones in the median plane of the body
  2. 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

  1. 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

  1. a contributor to a symposium

sym·po·sium [sim-'pō-zē-əm also -zh(ē-)əm] -n

  1. a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation
  2. a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas
  3. a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics
  4. a collection of opinions on a subject
  5. one published by a periodical
  6. discussion

symp·tom ['sim(p)-təm] -n, adj

  1. subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance
  2. something that indicates the presence of bodily disorder
  3. an evident reaction by a plant to a pathogen
  4. something that indicates the existence of something else
    • symptom s of an inner turmoil
  5. a slight indication : trace

symp·tom·at·ic [,sim(p)-tə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. being a symptom of a disease
  2. having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
    • symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
  3. concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
    • symptomatic treatment
    • a symptomatic patient
  4. characteristic, indicative
    • his behavior was symptomatic of his character

symp·tom·atol·o·gy [,sim(p)-tə-mə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the symptom complex of a disease
  2. a branch of medical science concerned with symptoms of diseases

syn- -prefix

  1. with : along with : together
    • syn clinal
    • sym petalous
  2. at the same time
    • syn esthesia

syn·aes·the·sia [,si-nəs-'thē-zh(ē-)ə] -n, adj

(variant of synesthesia)

  1. a concomitant sensation
  2. a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated
  3. the condition marked by the experience of such sensations

syn·a·gogue ['si-nə-,gäg] -n, adj

  1. a Jewish congregation
  2. the house of worship and communal center of a Jewish congregation

syn·ap·o·mor·phy [(,)si-'na-pə-,mȯr-fē] -n

  1. 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

  1. the point at which a nervous impulse passes from one neuron to another

synapse -vi

  1. to form a synapse
  2. to come together in synapsis

syn·ap·sid [sə-'nap-səd] -n, adj

  1. 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

  1. the association of homologous chromosomes that is characteristic of the first meiotic prophase

syn·ap·tic [sə-'nap-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to a synapsis
  2. of or relating to a synapse

syn·ap·to·ne·mal complex [sə-,nap-tə-'nē-məl-] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. of, relating to, or being a synarthrosis

syn·ar·thro·sis [-'thrō-səs] -n

  1. an immovable articulation in which the bones are united by intervening fibrous connective tissues

sync ['siŋk] -vt

  1. synchronize
  2. synchronization, synchronism
    • moving in sync
    • out of sync with the world

syn·car·pous [(,)sin-'kär-pəs] -adj, n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. adapted to synchronization

synchro -n

  1. synchronized swimming

synchro- -comb form

  1. synchronized : synchronous
    • synchro mesh

syn·chro·cy·clo·tron [,siŋ-(,)krō-'sī-klə-,trän, ,sin-] -n

  1. 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

  1. designed for effecting synchronized shifting of gears

syn·chro·ne·ity [,siŋ-krə-'nē-ə-tē, ,sin-, -'nā-] -n

  1. the state of being synchronous

syn·chron·ic [sin-'krä-nik, siŋ-] -adj, adv

  1. synchronous
  2. descriptive
    • synchronic linguistics
  3. 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

  1. the quality or fact of being synchronous
  2. 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)

  1. the act or result of synchronizing
  2. the state of being synchronous

syn·chro·nism ['siŋ-krə-,ni-zəm, 'sin-] -n, adj

  1. the quality or state of being synchronous : simultaneousness
  2. chronological arrangement of historical events and personages so as to indicate coincidence or coexistence
  3. a table showing such concurrences

syn·chro·ni·za·tion [,siŋ-krə-nə-'zā-shən, ,sin-] -n

  1. the act or result of synchronizing
  2. the state of being synchronous

syn·chro·nize ['siŋ-krə-,nīz, 'sin-] -vb, n

  1. to happen at the same time
  2. to represent or arrange (events) to indicate coincidence or coexistence
  3. to make synchronous in operation
  4. to make (motion-picture sound) exactly simultaneous with the action

synchronized swimming -n

  1. 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

  1. happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time
  2. recurring or operating at exactly the same periods
  3. involving or indicating synchronism
  4. having the same period
  5. having the same period and phase
  6. geostationary
  7. 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

  1. an electric motor having a speed strictly proportional to the frequency of the operating current

syn·chro·ny ['siŋ-krə-nē, 'sin-] -n

  1. synchronistic occurrence, arrangement, or treatment

syn·chro·scope [-,skōp] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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
  2. synchrotron radiation

synchrotron radiation -n

  1. 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

  1. inclined down from opposite directions so as to meet
  2. having or relating to a folded rock structure in which the sides dip toward a common line or plane

syn·cline ['sin-,klīn] -n

  1. 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

  1. to shorten or produce by syncope
    • syncopate suppose to s'pose
  2. to cut short : clip, abbreviate
  3. to modify or affect (musical rhythm) by syncopation

syncopated -adj

  1. cut short : abbreviated
  2. marked by or exhibiting syncopation
    • syncopated rhythm

syn·co·pa·tion [,siŋ-kə-'pā-shən, ,sin-] -n, adj

  1. a temporary displacement of the regular metrical accent in music caused typically by stressing the weak beat
  2. a syncopated rhythm, passage, or dance step

syn·co·pe ['siŋ-kə-(,)pē, 'sin-] -n, adj

  1. loss of consciousness resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain : faint
  2. 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

  1. characterized or brought about by syncretism : syncretistic
    • a syncretic religion

syn·cre·tise ['siŋ-krə-,tīz, 'sin-] -vt

(variant of syncretize)

  1. 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

  1. the combination of different forms of belief or practice
  2. the fusion of two or more orig. different inflectional forms

syn·cre·tize ['siŋ-krə-,tīz, 'sin-] -vt

  1. to attempt to unite and harmonize esp. without critical examination or logical unity

syn·cy·tium [sin-'si-sh(ē-)əm] -n, adj

  1. a multinucleate mass of cytoplasm resulting from fusion of cells
  2. coenocyte

syn·dac·ty·lism [(,)sin-'dak-tə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. syndactyly

syn·dac·ty·ly [-lē] -n

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. connective, connecting
    • syndetic pronoun
  2. marked by a conjunctive
    • syndetic relative clause

syn·dic ['sin-dik] -n

  1. a municipal magistrate in some countries
  2. an agent of a university or corporation

syn·di·cal [-di-kəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to a syndic or to a committee that assumes the powers of a syndic
  2. of or relating to syndicalism

syn·di·cal·ism ['sin-di-kə-,li-zəm] -n, adj or n

  1. a revolutionary doctrine by which workers seize control of the economy and the government by direct means (as a general strike)
  2. a system of economic organization in which industries are owned and managed by the workers
  3. a theory of government based on functional rather than territorial representation

syn·di·cate ['sin-di-kət] -n

  1. a council or body of syndics
  2. the office or jurisdiction of a syndic
  3. an association of persons officially authorized to undertake a duty or negotiate business
  4. a group of persons or concerns who combine to carry out a particular transaction or project
  5. cartel
  6. a loose association of racketeers in control of organized crime
  7. a business concern that sells materials for publication in a number of newspapers or periodicals simultaneously
  8. a group of newspapers under one management
  9. to subject to or manage as a syndicate
  10. to sell (as a cartoon) to a syndicate or for publication in many newspapers or periodicals at once
  11. to sell the work of (as a writer) in this way
    • a syndicated columnist
  12. to sell (as a series of television programs) directly to local stations
  13. to unite to form a syndicate

syn·drome ['sin-,drōm also -drəm] -n

  1. a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition
  2. a set of concurrent things (as emotions or actions) that usu. form an identifiable pattern

syne ['sīn] -adv

  1. since then : ago
  2. since

syn·ec·do·che [sə-'nek-də-(,)kē] -n, adj, adv

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. synizesis
  2. the separation of liquid from a gel caused by contraction

syn·er·get·ic [,si-nər-'je-tik] -adj

  1. synergic

syn·er·gic [sə-'nər-jik] -adj, adv

  1. working together : cooperating
    • synergic muscles

syn·er·gid [sə-'nər-jəd, 'si-nər-] -n

  1. one of two small cells lying near the micropyle of the embryo sac of an angiosperm

syn·er·gism ['si-nər-,ji-zəm] -n

  1. 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

  1. something (as a chemical or a muscle) that enhances the effectiveness of an active agent
  2. either member of a synergistic pair

syn·er·gis·tic [,si-nər-'jis-tik] -adj, adv

  1. having the capacity to act in synergism
    • synergistic drugs
  2. of, relating to, or resembling synergism
    • a synergistic reaction

syn·er·gy ['si-nər-jē] -n

  1. synergism
  2. combined action or operation
  3. a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (as resources or efforts)

syn·e·sis ['si-nə-səs] -n

  1. 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

  1. a concomitant sensation
  2. a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated
  3. the condition marked by the experience of such sensations

syn·es·thete ['si-nəs-,thēt] -n

  1. a person affected with synesthesia

syn·fu·el ['sin-,fyü(-ə)l] -n

  1. 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

  1. sexual reproduction by union of gametes : fertilization

syn·gas ['sin-,gas] -n

  1. synthesis gas

syn·ge·ne·ic [,sin-jə-'nē-ik] -adj

  1. involving, derived from, or being genetically identical or similar individuals of the same species esp. with respect to antigenic interaction
    • syngeneic tumor cells
    • grafts between syngeneic mice

syn·i·ze·sis [,si-nə-'zē-səs] -n

  1. contraction of two syllables into one by uniting in pronunciation two adjacent vowels

syn·od ['si-nəd also -,näd] -n, adj

  1. : an ecclesiastical governing or advisory council: as
  2. an assembly of bishops in the Roman Catholic Church
  3. the governing assembly of an Episcopal province
  4. a Presbyterian governing body ranking between the presbytery and the general assembly
  5. a regional or national organization of Lutheran congregations
  6. the ecclesiastical district governed by a synod

syn·od·ic [sə-'nä-dik] -adj

  1. of or relating to a synod : synodal
  2. relating to conjunction
  3. relating to the period between two successive conjunctions of the same celestial bodies (as the moon and the sun)

synodic month -n

  1. a lunar month

syn·o·nym ['si-nə-,nim] -n, adj

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. metonym
  4. one of two or more scientific names used to designate the same taxonomic group

syn·on·y·mist [sə-'nä-nə-mist] -n

  1. one who lists, studies, or discriminates synonyms

syn·on·y·mize [-,mīz] -vt

  1. to give or analyze the synonyms of (a word)
  2. to provide (as a dictionary) with synonymies
  3. to demonstrate (a taxonomic name) to be a synonym

syn·on·y·mous [-məs] -adj, adv

  1. having the character of a synonym
  2. alike in meaning or significance
  3. having the same connotations, implications, or reference
    • to runners, Boston is synonymous with marathon -- Runners World

syn·on·y·my [-mē] -n

  1. a list or collection of synonyms often defined and discriminated from each other
  2. the study or discrimination of synonyms
  3. the scientific names that have been used to designate the same taxonomic group (as a species)
  4. a list of these
  5. the quality or state of being synonymous

syn·op·sis [sə-'näp-səs] -n

  1. a condensed statement or outline (as of a narrative or treatise) : abstract
  2. the abbreviated conjugation of a verb in one person only

syn·op·size [-,sīz] -vt

  1. epitomize
  2. to make a synopsis of (as a novel)

syn·op·tic [sə-'näp-tik] -adj, adv

  1. affording a general view of a whole
  2. manifesting or characterized by comprehensiveness or breadth of view
  3. presenting or taking the same or common view
  4. of or relating to the first three Gospels of the New Testament
  5. 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

  1. union of two or more separate bones to form a single bone

sy·no·via [sə-'nō-vē-ə, sī-] -n

  1. synovial fluid

sy·no·vi·al [-vē-əl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or secreting synovial fluid
    • synovial membranes
  2. lined with synovial membrane

synovial fluid -n

  1. a transparent viscid lubricating fluid secreted by a membrane of an articulation, bursa, or tendon sheath

synovial joint -n

  1. diarthrosis

sy·no·vi·tis [,sī-nə-'vī-təs] -n

  1. inflammation of a synovial membrane

syn·tac·tic [sin-'tak-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or according to the rules of syntax or syntactics

syn·tac·ti·cian [,sin-,tak-'ti-shən] -n

  1. a specialist in syntax

syn·tac·tics [-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. 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)

  1. a syntactic element

syn·tag·ma [sin-'tag-mə] -n, adj

  1. a syntactic element

syn·tax ['sin-,taks] -n

  1. the way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses)
  2. the part of grammar dealing with this
  3. a connected or orderly system : harmonious arrangement of parts or elements
    • the syntax of classical architecture
  4. syntactics esp. as dealing with the formal properties of languages or calculi

synth ['sin(t)th] -n

  1. synthesizer

syn·the·sis ['sin(t)-thə-səs] -n

  1. the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole
  2. the production of a substance by the union of chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds or by the degradation of a complex compound
  3. the combining of often diverse conceptions into a coherent whole
  4. the complex so formed
  5. deductive reasoning
  6. the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis into a higher stage of truth
  7. the frequent and systematic use of inflected forms as a characteristic device of a language

synthesis gas -n

  1. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen used esp. in chemical synthesis

syn·the·size [-,sīz] -vb

  1. to combine or produce by synthesis
  2. to make a synthesis of
  3. to produce (as music) by an electronic synthesizer
  4. to make a synthesis

syn·the·siz·er [-,sī-zər] -n

  1. one that synthesizes
    • an expert synthesizer of diverse views
  2. a usu. computerized electronic apparatus for the production and control of sound (as for producing music)

syn·the·tase ['sin-thə-,tās, -,tāz] -n

  1. 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

  1. relating to or involving synthesis : not analytic
    • the synthetic aspects of a philosophy
  2. 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
  3. characterized by frequent and systematic use of inflected forms to express grammatical relationships
    • synthetic languages
  4. of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis
  5. produced artificially
    • synthetic drugs
    • synthetic silk
  6. of or relating to a synfuel
  7. devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities
  8. factitious, bogus

synthetic -n

  1. something resulting from synthesis rather than occurring naturally
  2. a product (as a drug or plastic) of chemical synthesis

synthetic division -n

  1. 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

  1. elementary euclidean geometry or projective geometry as distinguished from analytic geometry

synthetic resin -n

  1. resin

syph ['sif] -n

  1. syphilis

syph·i·lis ['si-f(ə-)ləs] -n, adj or n

  1. 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)

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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

  1. 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)
  2. a vine producing Syrah grapes
  3. a red wine made from Syrah grapes

sy·rette [sə-'ret] -n

  1. 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

  1. a literary language based on an eastern Aramaic dialect and used as the literary and liturgical language by several Eastern Christian churches
  2. Aramaic spoken by Christian communities

Syr·i·an hamster ['sir-ē-ən-] -n

  1. golden hamster

sy·rin·ga [sə-'riŋ-gə] -n

  1. mock orange

sy·ringe [sə-'rinj also 'sir-inj] -n

  1. : a device used to inject fluids into or withdraw them from something (as the body or its cavities): as
  2. a device that consists of a nozzle of varying length and a compressible rubber bulb and is used for injection or irrigation
  3. 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
  4. 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

  1. 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

  1. a chronic progressive disease of the spinal cord associated with sensory disturbances, muscle atrophy, and spasticity

syr·inx ['sir-iŋ(k)s] -n

  1. panpipe
  2. 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

  1. hoverfly

syr·up ['sər-əp, 'sir-əp, 'sə-rəp] -n, adj

  1. a thick sticky solution of sugar and water often flavored or medicated
  2. the concentrated juice of a fruit or plant
  3. cloying sweetness or sentimentality

sys·op ['sis-(,)äp] -n

  1. the administrator of a computer bulletin board

syst -abbr

  1. system

sys·tal·tic [sis-'tȯl-tik, -'tal-] -adj

  1. marked by regular contraction and dilatation : pulsing

sys·tem ['sis-təm] -n, adj

  1. : a regularly interacting or interdependent group of items forming a unified whole
    • a number system
    : as
  2. a group of interacting bodies under the influence of related forces
    • a gravitational system
  3. an assemblage of substances that is in or tends to equilibrium
    • a thermodynamic system
  4. a group of body organs that together perform one or more vital functions
    • the digestive system
  5. the body considered as a functional unit
  6. a group of related natural objects or forces
    • a river system
  7. a group of devices or artificial objects or an organization forming a network esp. for distributing something or serving a common purpose
    • a telephone system
    • a heating system
    • a highway system
    • a computer system
  8. a major division of rocks usu. larger than a series and including all formed during a period or era
  9. a form of social, economic, or political organization or practice
    • the capitalist system
  10. 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
  11. an organized or established procedure
    • the touch system of typing
  12. a manner of classifying, symbolizing, or schematizing
    • a taxonomic system
    • the decimal system
  13. harmonious arrangement or pattern : order
    • bring system out of confusion -- Ellen Glasgow
  14. 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

  1. relating to or consisting of a system
  2. presented or formulated as a coherent body of ideas or principles
    • systematic thought
  3. methodical in procedure or plan
    • a systematic approach
    • a systematic scholar
  4. marked by thoroughness and regularity
    • systematic efforts
  5. of, relating to, or concerned with classification
  6. taxonomic

systematic error -n

  1. 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

  1. the science of classification
  2. a system of classification
  3. the classification and study of organisms with regard to their natural relationships : taxonomy

systematic theology -n

  1. 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)

  1. 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

  1. the practice of forming intellectual systems

sys·tem·a·tist ['sis-tə-mə-tist, sis-'te-mə-] -n

  1. a maker or follower of a system
  2. a specialist in taxonomy : taxonomist

sys·tem·a·tize ['sis-tə-mə-,tīz] -vt, n

  1. 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

  1. : of, relating to, or common to a system: as
  2. affecting the body generally
  3. supplying those parts of the body that receive blood through the aorta rather than through the pulmonary artery
  4. 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

  1. a systemic pesticide

systemic lupus er·y·the·ma·to·sus [-,er-ə-,thē-mə-'tō-səs] -n

  1. 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

  1. systematize

systems analysis -n

  1. 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

  1. a rhythmically recurrent contraction
  2. the contraction of the heart by which the blood is forced onward and the circulation kept up

syz·y·gy ['si-zə-jē] -n

  1. 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