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synthesis

Syllabification: (syn·the·sis)
Pronunciation: /ˈsinTHəsis/
Translate synthesis | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of synthesis

noun (plural syntheses /-ˌsēz/)

  • combination or composition, in particular.
  • the combination of ideas to form a theory or system:the synthesis of intellect and emotion in his work the ideology represented a synthesis of certain ideasOften contrasted with analysis.
  • the production of chemical compounds by reaction from simpler materials:the synthesis of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen
  • (in Hegelian philosophy) the final stage in the process of dialectical reasoning, in which a new idea resolves the conflict between thesis and antithesis.
  • Grammar the process of making compound and derivative words.
  • Linguistics the use of inflected forms rather than word order to express grammatical structure.

Derivatives

synthesist

noun

Origin:

early 17th century: via Latin from Greek sunthesis, from suntithenai 'place together'

Spelling rule

Make the plural of synthesis by changing the -is ending to -es: (syntheses).

synthesis in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of synthesis in the British & World English dictionary
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