Symbiotic

WOTD - 25 June 2008    

English

Adjective

Symbiotic (not comparable)

1. (biology) Of, or relating to symbiosis; living together.

   A lichen is a fungus with symbiotic algae among its cells.

2. Of a relationship with mutual benefit between two individuals or organisms.

Notes

Although the biologic meaning of symbiotic strictly refers to "living together", regardless of the nature of the relationship, in casual speech the word typically implies a beneficial relationship.

Synonyms

• (with mutual benefit): mutualistic

Derived terms

• symbiotically

Related terms

• symbiont
• symbiote

Noun

Symbiotic (plural Symbiotics)

1. (astronomy) symbiotic star

Thesaurus

accompanying, accordant, affirmative, agreeable, agreeing, answerable, associate, associated, at one, at one with, coacting, coactive, coadjutant, coadjuvant, coadunate, coefficient, coexistent, coexisting, coherent, coincident, coinciding, collaborative, collective, collectivist, collectivistic, collusive, combined, combining, commensal, commensurate, common, communal, communalist, communalistic, communist, communistic, communitarian, compatible, concerted, concomitant, concordant, concurrent, concurring, conformable, congenial, congruent, congruous, conjoint, conniving, consentaneous, consentient, consilient, consistent, consonant, conspiratorial, cooperant, cooperating, cooperative, coordinate, correspondent, corresponding, coworking, ecological, ecotopic, ecumenic, en rapport, equivalent, fellow, harmonious, harmonized, in accord, in agreement, in rapport, in sync, in synchronization, inaccordance, inharmony, joint, like-minded, meeting, mutual, noncompetitive, of a piece, of like mind, of one mind, on all fours, parasitic, positive, proportionate, reciprocal, reconcilable, saprophytic, self-consistent, synchronized, synchronous, synergetic, synergic, synergistic, unanimous, uncompetitive, uniform, unisonant, unisonous, united, uniting

Etymology

From symbiosis from Ancient Greek συμβίωσις (sumbiōsis) from σύν (sun, “with”) + βίος (bios, “life”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɒt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɒt.ɪk/
• (US) IPA: /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɑt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɑt.ɪk/

• Audio (US)

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  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒtɪk

Translations

Adjective

biology: living together

Czech: symbiotický (cs) m. Finnish: symbioottinen (fi) French: symbiotique (fr) m. and f.

Italian: simbiotico (it) m. Macedonian: симбиотичен (mk) (simbiótičen) m., взаемен (mk) (vzáemen) m. Swedish: symbiotisk (sv)

having a mutually beneficial relationship

Finnish: symbioottinen (fi) French: symbiotique (fr) m. and f.

Italian: simbiotico (it) m. Macedonian: взаемен (mk) (vzáemen) m.