English dictionary — definitions & meanings

sylvestrine

noun

A Benedictine monk of a congregation founded in 1231 by Sylvester Gozzolini.

sylvia

name

A female given name from Latin, a popular spelling variant of Silvia.

Sylvie

name

A feminine given name of French origin, derived from Latin "silva," meaning "forest."

sylvite

noun

An evaporite, consisting of potassium chloride KCl, also found in fumaroles.

symbiont

noun

An organism that lives in a symbiotic relationship.

symbiosis

noun

A close, long-term relationship between different species that benefits at least one, and often both.

symbiote

noun

An organism living in a close, mutual relationship with another organism; also used loosely for any dependent partner.

symbiotic

adj

Describing a relationship in which two different organisms, groups, or things live together and benefit from each other.

symbol

noun

A written character or image that stands for an idea, object, or sound.

symbolic

adj

Serving as a symbol; representing something beyond its literal meaning.

symbolically

adv

In a way that represents or stands for something else, rather than literally.

symbolism

noun

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

symbolist

adj

Of or pertaining to the Symbolist movement in late 19th-century and early 20th-century European arts and literature

symbolization

noun

The act of symbolizing; the use of symbols to represent things, or the investing of things with a symbolic meaning.

symbolize

verb

To be a symbol of; to represent something beyond its literal meaning.

symes

name

A surname transferred from the given name.

symmetric

adj

Synonym of symmetrical

symmetrical

adj

Having matching parts on either side of a dividing line or centre; balanced in shape or arrangement.

symmetricalness

noun

The quality of being symmetrical.

symmetrophobia

noun

An aversion to symmetry, particularly as applied in ancient Egyptian architecture and Japanese design.

symmetry

noun

The quality of having matching, balanced parts on either side of a line, plane, or centre.

symonds

name

An English patronymic surname from the given name Simon.

sympathetic

adj

Showing understanding, care, or compassion for someone else's feelings or situation.

sympathise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of sympathize.

sympathiser

noun

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of sympathizer.

sympathize

verb

To feel or express understanding and care for someone else's suffering or situation.

sympathizer

noun

A person who supports or shares understanding with a cause, side, or movement.

sympathy

noun

A feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's suffering or misfortune.

symphony

noun

A large-scale orchestral piece of music, usually in several movements.

symposium

noun

A formal meeting or conference where experts give presentations and discuss a topic.

symptom

noun

A physical or mental sign felt by a person that indicates illness or disorder, such as pain or fatigue.

symptomatic

adj

Showing the signs or symptoms of a condition.

syn

adj

That has a torsion angle between 0° and 90°.

synagogue

noun

A building used as a place of worship and study by Jewish communities.

synaptic

adj

Relating to a synapse, the junction where signals pass between two nerve cells.

sync

verb

To make two or more things happen or update together at the same time.

synced

adj

Updated or coordinated to match another device, file, or schedule.

synchro

noun

A synchronized event or activity, especially synchronized swimming.

synchronal

adj

Synchronous; simultaneous.

synchroneity

noun

The state or characteristic of being synchronous or synchronized.

synchronical

adj

Happening at the same time; synchronous.

synchronicity

noun

The quality of happening at the same time; simultaneity.

synchronise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of synchronize.

synchronization

noun

The act or state of making things happen at the same time or run at matching rates.

synchronize

verb

To make two or more things happen at the same time or the same rate.

synchronized

adj

Made to happen together, coordinated in time.

synchronous

adjective

Happening or done at the same time as something else.

synchronously

adv

In a synchronous manner; carried out or occurring with synchrony; in phase or at the same time.

syncope

noun

The elision or loss of a sound from the interior of a word, especially of a vowel sound with loss of a syllable.

syncretism

noun

The reconciliation or fusion of different systems or beliefs (religious, cultural, or otherwise cosmologic or ontologic).

syndactyly

noun

The normal condition, in some animals and birds, of having fused digits.

syndicalist

adj

Of, relating to, supporting, or advocating syndicalism.

syndicate

noun

A group of people or companies who join together to run a business venture or pursue a shared interest.

syndicated

adj

Sold or broadcast to many different newspapers, stations, or channels at the same time rather than produced by just one.

syndication

noun

The act of syndicating a news feature by publishing it in multiple newspapers etc, simultaneously

syndicator

noun

One who, or that which, syndicates.

syndrome

noun

A recognizable group of symptoms or signs that together point to a particular medical or psychological condition.

syne

adv

Afterward; then (chiefly Scots and archaic).

synecdochically

adv

In a synecdochical manner.

synergistic

adj

Of or pertaining to synergy or synergism; synergic; co-operative, working together, interacting, mutually stimulating.

synergy

noun

The extra benefit gained when people, groups, or things combine and work together, greater than what each could achieve alone.

syngamy

noun

The fusion of two gametes to form a zygote.

synod

noun

A formal council or meeting of church leaders held to decide on religious matters.

synonymic

adj

Of, relating to, or being a synonym.

synonymous

adj

Having the same or a very similar meaning as another word or phrase.

synopsis

noun

A short summary that covers the main points of a book, film, or other written work.

synoptic

adj

Of or relating to a synopsis.

synoptically

adv

In a synoptic manner

synoptist

noun

An author of one of the synoptic gospels, that is, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

syntax

noun

The set of rules governing how words are arranged to form correct phrases and sentences in a language.

syntaxis

noun

A convergence of mountain ranges, or geological folds, towards a single point.

synth

noun

Short for synthesizer, an electronic instrument for creating and shaping sounds.

synthesis

noun

The forming of something new and complete by combining separate parts or ideas.

synthesise

verb

Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of synthesize.

synthesist

noun

One who synthesizes.

synthesize

verb

To combine two or more elements to create something new.

synthesized

adj

Produced by combining separate elements, or created artificially rather than occurring naturally.

synthesizer

noun

An electronic musical instrument, usually played with a keyboard, that generates and shapes sound electronically.

synthetic

adj

Made by chemical or industrial synthesis rather than occurring naturally, though it may closely match a natural equivalent.

syntropy

noun

A tendency towards complexity, structure, order, organization of ever more advantageous and orderly patterns. Originally coined as a synonym for negentropy

syphilis

noun

A sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria, which can cause serious long-term health problems if untreated.

Syracuse

name

A historic city and port in Sicily, Italy, and former capital of the province of the same name.

Syria

name

A country in West Asia, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, with its capital at Damascus.

Syrian

adj

Relating to Syria, its people, or its culture.

syringa

noun

Sweet mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius).

syringe

noun

A device with a needle, a chamber, and a plunger, used to inject or draw off fluids.

syrt

noun

A kind of elevated flatland in Russia and Central Asia.

syrtis

noun

Synonym of quicksand.

syrup

noun

A thick, sugary liquid poured over food or used as a sweetener.

syrupy

adj

Having the taste or consistency of syrup.

system

noun

A set of related parts that work together as a whole.

systematic

adj

Carried out according to a fixed, organized plan or method.

systematically

adv

In an organized, methodical way; following a consistent plan.

systematics

noun

The study of classification systems and nomenclature.

systemative

adj

According to, or using, a system, especially a previously agreed one.

systematize

verb

To arrange into a systematic order; to make systematic; to organise as a system.

systemic

adj

Affecting or built into an entire system, organization, or body rather than just one part of it.

systemic racism

noun

Racial disadvantage that is produced by the ordinary rules, practices and habits of institutions such as courts, banks, schools and employers, so that unequal outcomes persist even where no individual intends to discriminate.

systemwise

adv

According to or pertaining to a system

systolic

adj

Relating to systole, the phase when the heart contracts and pumps blood.

Szabo

name

A Hungarian surname, historically an occupational name for a tailor.

Sze

name

A Chinese surname, a romanization related to the name Xie.