SYNTHETIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does synthetic mean? 

• SYNTHETIC (noun)
  The noun SYNTHETIC has 1 sense:

1. a compound made artificially by chemical reactions

  Familiarity information: SYNTHETIC used as a noun is very rare.

• SYNTHETIC (adjective)
  The adjective SYNTHETIC has 6 senses:

1. not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially

2. involving or of the nature of synthesis (combining separate elements to form a coherent whole) as opposed to analysis

3. systematic combining of root and modifying elements into single words

4. of a proposition whose truth value is determined by observation or facts

5. artificial as if portrayed in a film

6. not genuine or natural

  Familiarity information: SYNTHETIC used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SYNTHETIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A compound made artificially by chemical reactions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

synthetic; synthetic substance

Hypernyms ("synthetic" is a kind of...):

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "synthetic"):

Plasticine (a synthetic material resembling clay but remaining soft; used as a substitute for clay or wax in modeling (especially in schools))

phosphor (a synthetic substance that is fluorescent or phosphorescent; used to coat the screens of cathode ray tubes)

rubber; synthetic rubber (any of various synthetic elastic materials whose properties resemble natural rubber)

• SYNTHETIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially

Synonyms:

man-made; semisynthetic; synthetic

Context example:

synthetic leather

Similar:

artificial; unreal (contrived by art rather than nature)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Involving or of the nature of synthesis (combining separate elements to form a coherent whole) as opposed to analysis

Synonyms:

synthetic; synthetical

Context example:

limnology is essentially a synthetic science composed of elements...that extend well beyond the limits of biology

Antonym:

analytic (using or skilled in using analysis (i.e., separating a whole--intellectual or substantial--into its elemental parts or basic principles))

Derivation:

synthesis (the combination of ideas into a complex whole)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Systematic combining of root and modifying elements into single words

Similar:

agglutinative; polysynthetic (forming derivative or compound words by putting together constituents each of which expresses a single definite meaning)

Domain category:

linguistics (the scientific study of language)

Antonym:

analytic (expressing a grammatical category by using two or more words rather than inflection)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Of a proposition whose truth value is determined by observation or facts

Synonyms:

synthetic; synthetical

Context example:

'all men are arrogant' is a synthetic proposition

Also:

a posteriori (involving reasoning from facts or particulars to general principles or from effects to causes)

inductive (of reasoning; proceeding from particular facts to a general conclusion)

logical (capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning)

Domain category:

logic (the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference)

Antonym:

analytic (of a proposition that is necessarily true independent of fact or experience)

Derivation:

synthesis (reasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Artificial as if portrayed in a film

Synonyms:

celluloid; synthetic

Context example:

a novel with flat celluloid characters

Similar:

artificial; unreal (contrived by art rather than nature)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Not genuine or natural

Context example:

counterfeit rhetoric that flourishes when passions are synthetic

Similar:

counterfeit; imitative (not genuine; imitating something superior)

 Context examples 

A synthetic derivative of progesterone with antiestrogenic activity.

(Megestrol, NCI Thesaurus)

The synthetic substance belongs to the Thiopurine group, along with medicines used to treat cancer.

(Brazil scientists discover Zika virus inhibitor, Agência Brasil)

A synthetic derivate of hydroquinone and depigmenting agent.

(Mequinol, NCI Thesaurus)

Tumor cells expressing HSV-tk are sensitive to synthetic acyclic guanosine analogues.

(Ad-hCMV-TK, NCI Thesaurus)

A synthetic corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties.

(Methylprednisolone, NCI Thesaurus)

A synthetic opioid that is used as the hydrochloride.

(Methadone hydrochloride, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The scientists used antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), synthetic compounds that inhibit the formation of specific proteins.

(Experimental treatment slows prion disease, extends life of mice, National Institutes of Health)

A synthetic central nervous system stimulant.

(Methylphenidate, NCI Thesaurus)

A second-generation synthetic antisense oligonucleotide with potential antineoplastic activity.

(AEG35156, NCI Thesaurus)

A synthetic imidazoquinoline with antineoplastic activity.

(Acodazole, NCI Thesaurus)