English Explanatory Dictionary

symbiosis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A relationship of mutual benefit, especially among different species.
  2. The close and long-term relationship or interaction between two or more different species.
  3. The close and long-term relationship or interaction between two or more different species in which all organisms benefit; mutualism.
  4. The state of people of different types, races, cultures, communities, etc., living together.
  5. The occurrence of two different or opposing things in the same time and place.

Pronunciation

/sɪmbaɪˈoʊsɪs/ /sɪmbiˈoʊsɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-symbiosis.wav

Word forms

symbiosis symbioses

Etymology

From Ancient Greek συμβίωσις (sumbíōsis, “living together”). By surface analysis, sym- + -biosis.

Related words

semiosis symbiont symbiote

Derived words

aposymbiosis asymbiosis chemosymbiosis contingent symbiosis ectosymbiosis endosymbiosis episymbiosis exosymbiosis parasymbiosis photosymbiosis phylosymbiosis presymbiosis symbiology Symbionese symbiosism symbiosome symbiotic
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