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Synonym

 - 4 dictionary results

syn⋅o⋅nym

  [sin-uh-nim]
Use Synonym in a Sentence
–noun
1. a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another in the language, as joyful, elated, glad.
2. a word or expression accepted as another name for something, as Arcadia for pastoral simplicity; metonym.
3. Biology. one of two or more scientific names applied to a single taxon.
Origin:
1400–50; < L synōnymum < Gk synnymon, n. use of neut. of synnymos synonymous; r. ME sinonyme < MF < L, as above

Related forms:
syn⋅o⋅nym⋅ic, syn⋅o⋅nym⋅i⋅cal, adjective
syn⋅o⋅nym⋅i⋅ty  [sin-uh-nim-i-tee] , noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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syn·o·nym   (sĭn'ə-nĭm')   
n.  

  1. A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or other words in a language.

  2. A word or an expression that serves as a figurative or symbolic substitute for another.

  3. Biology A scientific name of an organism or of a taxonomic group that has been superseded by another name at the same rank.


[Middle English sinonyme, from Old French synonyme, from Latin synōnymum, from Greek sunōnumon, from neuter of sunōnumos, synonymous; see synonymous.]
syn'o·nym'ic, syn'o·nym'i·cal adj., syn'o·nym'i·ty n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

synonym 
1432 (but rare before 18c.), from L. synonymum, from Gk. synonymon "word having the same sense as another," noun use of neut. of synonymos "having the same name as, synonymous," from syn- "together, same" + onyma, Aeolic dialectal form of onoma "name" (see name). Synonymous is attested from 1610.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: syn·onym
Pronunciation: 'sin-&-"nim
Function: noun
: a taxonomic name rejected as being incorrectly applied or incorrect in form —syn·onym·i·ty /"sin-&-'nim-&t-E/ noun plural -ties
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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