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photosynthesis

 - 6 dictionary results

pho⋅to⋅syn⋅the⋅sis

  [foh-tuh-sin-thuh-sis]
Use photosynthesis in a Sentence
–noun Biology, Biochemistry.
(esp. in plants) the synthesis of complex organic materials, esp. carbohydrates, from carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic salts, using sunlight as the source of energy and with the aid of chlorophyll and associated pigments.
Origin:
1895–1900; photo- + synthesis

Related forms:
pho⋅to⋅syn⋅thet⋅ic  [foh-tuh-sin-thet-ik] , adjective
pho⋅to⋅syn⋅thet⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pho·to·syn·the·sis   (fō'tō-sĭn'thĭ-sĭs)   
n.  The process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a byproduct.
pho'to·syn·thet'ic (-sĭn-thět'ĭk) adj., pho'to·syn·thet'i·cal·ly adv.
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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Cultural Dictionary

photosynthesis

Use by green plants of the energy in sunlight to carry out chemical reactions, such as the conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen. Photosynthesis also produces the sugars that feed the plant.

Note: Green plants depend on chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

photosynthesis 
1898, loan-translation of Ger. Photosynthese, from photo- "light" + synthese "synthesis." Another early word for it was photosyntax.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pho·to·syn·the·sis
Pronunciation: "fOt-O-'sin(t)-th&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -the·ses
: synthesis of chemical compounds with the aid of light sometimes including the near infrared or near ultraviolet; especially : the formation ofcarbohydrates from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (as water) in chlorophyll-containing cells (as of green plants) exposed to light involving a photochemical release of oxygen through thedecomposition of water followed by various enzymatic synthetic reactions that usually do not require the presence of light —pho·to·syn·the·size /-"sIz/ also British pho·to·syn·the·sise intransitive verb -sized also British -sised; -siz·ing also British -sis·ing
—pho·to·syn·thet·ic /-sin-'thet-ik/ adjective —pho·to·syn·thet·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

photosynthesis pho·to·syn·the·sis (fō'tō-sĭn'thĭ-sĭs)
n.
The process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source.

pho'to·syn·thet'ic (-sĭn-thět'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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