symbiotic
English
Etymology
From symbiosis + -otic, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek συμβίωσις (sumbíōsis), from σύν (sún, “with”) + βίος (bíos, “life”).
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɒt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɒt.ɪk/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɑt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɑt.ɪk/
Audio (US): (file) Audio (AU): (file) - Rhymes: -ɒtɪk
Adjective
symbiotic (not comparable)
- (ecology) Of, or relating to symbiosis; living together.
- A lichen is a fungus with symbiotic algae among its cells.
- 2014 April 5, “Quite interesting: A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week; QI orchids you not”, in The Daily Telegraph (Weekend), page W22:
- Orchids rely on fungi to reproduce. Their tiny seeds don't have any on-board nutrients (like beans and apples) and will not germinate until they are infected by a symbiotic fungus which supplies them with food. Known as a protocorm, this tiny orchid-fungus ball grows, turns green and eventually starts to photosynthesise.
- Of a relationship with mutual benefit between two individuals or organisms.
Usage 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
Related terms
Translations
biology: living together
|
having a mutually beneficial relationship
|
Noun
symbiotic (plural symbiotics)
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -otic
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɒtɪk
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- en:Ecology
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- English nouns
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- en:Astronomy