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symbiotic

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sym⋅bi⋅o⋅sis

  [sim-bee-oh-sis, -bahy-]
–noun, plural -ses  [-seez] .
1. Biology.
a. the living together of two dissimilar organisms, as in mutualism, commensalism, amensalism, or parasitism.
b. (formerly) mutualism (def. 1).
2. Psychiatry. a relationship between two people in which each person is dependent upon and receives reinforcement, whether beneficial or detrimental, from the other.
3. Psychoanalysis. the relationship between an infant and its mother in which the infant is dependent on the mother both physically and emotionally.
4. any interdependent or mutually beneficial relationship between two persons, groups, etc.
Use symbiotic in a Sentence
Origin:
1615–25; < Gk symbíōsis, equiv. to sym- sym- + biō (var. s. of bioûn to live) + -sis -sis

Related forms:
sym⋅bi⋅ot⋅ic  [sim-bee-ot-ik, -bahy-] sym⋅bi⋅ot⋅i⋅cal, adjective
sym⋅bi⋅ot⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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sym·bi·o·sis   (sĭm'bē-ō'sĭs, -bī-)   
n.   pl. sym·bi·o·ses (-sēz)

  1. Biology A close, prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species that may, but does not necessarily, benefit each member.

  2. A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.


[Greek sumbiōsis, companionship, from sumbioun, to live together, from sumbios, living together : sun-, syn- + bios, life; see gwei- in Indo-European roots.]
sym'bi·ot'ic (-ŏt'ĭk), sym'bi·ot'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj., sym'bi·ot'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

symbiosis [(sim-bee-oh-sis, sim-beye-oh-sis)]

The process by which two organisms live together, usually to their mutual benefit. An example of a symbiotic pair are cows and the bacteria that live in their digestive tracts, enabling them to digest cellulose in grass.

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

symbiosis 
1877, as a biological term, "mutually beneficial association of two different organisms," from Mod.L., from Gk. symbiosis "a living together," from symbioun "live together," from symbios "(one) living together (with another), partner," from syn- "together" + bios "life" (see bio-). Given a wider (non-biological) sense by 1921. An earlier sense of "communal or social life" is found in 1622. Symbiotic first recorded 1882.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: sym·bi·o·sis
Pronunciation: "sim-"bI-'O-s&s, -bE-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural sym·bi·o·ses /-"sEz/
1 : the living together of two dissimilar organisms in more or less intimate association or close union
2 : the intimate living together of two dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial relationship; especially : MUTUALISM

Main Entry: sym·bi·ot·ic
Pronunciation: "sim-"bI-'ät-ik, -bE-
Variant: also sym·bi·ot·i·cal /-i-k&l/
Function: adjective
: relating to, characterized by, living in, or resulting from a state of symbiosis —sym·bi·ot·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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symbiosis sym·bi·o·sis (sĭm'bē-ō'sĭs, -bī-)
n. pl. sym·bi·o·ses (-sēz)

  1. A close, prolonged association between two or more different organisms of different species that may, but does not necessarily, benefit each member.

  2. A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

symbiotic sym·bi·ot·ic (sĭm'bē-ŏt'ĭk, -bī-)
adj.
Of, resembling, or relating to symbiosis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
symbiosis   (sĭm'bē-ō'sĭs)  Pronunciation Key 
The close association between two or more organisms of different species, often but not necessarily benefiting each member. The association of algae and fungi in lichens and of bacteria living in the intestines or on the skin of animals are forms of symbiosis. Some scientists believe that many multicellular organisms evolved from symbiotic relationships between unicellular ones and that the DNA-containing organelles within certain eukaryotic cells (such as mitochondria and chloroplasts) are the product of symbiotic relationships in which the participants became interdependent. There are four forms of symbiosis: amensalism, commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism.

symbiotic adjective
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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