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system

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System
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sys⋅tem

  [sis-tuhm]
Use system in a Sentence
–noun
1. an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole: a mountain system; a railroad system.
2. any assemblage or set of correlated members: a system of currency; a system of shorthand characters.
3. an ordered and comprehensive assemblage of facts, principles, doctrines, or the like in a particular field of knowledge or thought: a system of philosophy.
4. a coordinated body of methods or a scheme or plan of procedure; organizational scheme: a system of government.
5. any formulated, regular, or special method or plan of procedure: a system of marking, numbering, or measuring; a winning system at bridge.
6. due method or orderly manner of arrangement or procedure: There is no system in his work.
7. the world or universe.
8. Astronomy.
a. a number of heavenly bodies associated and acting together according to certain natural laws: the solar system.
b. a hypothesis or theory of the disposition and arrangements of the heavenly bodies by which their phenomena, motions, changes, etc., are explained: the Ptolemaic system; the Copernican system.
9. Biology.
a. an assemblage of organs or related tissues concerned with the same function: the nervous system; the digestive system.
b. the entire human or animal body considered as a functioning unit: an ingredient toxic to the system.
10. one's psychological makeup, esp. with reference to desires or preoccupations: to get something out of one's system.
11. a method or scheme of classification: the Linnean system of plants.
12. (sometimes initial capital letter) the prevailing structure or organization of society, business, or politics or of society in general; establishment (usually prec. by the): to work within the system instead of trying to change it.
13. Geology. a major division of rocks comprising sedimentary deposits and igneous masses formed during a single geologic period.
14. Physical Chemistry. a combination of two or more phases, as a binary system, each of which consists of one or more substances, that is attaining or is in equilibrium.
15. Computers. a working combination of hardware, software, and data communications devices.
16. Checkers. either of the two groups of 16 playing squares on four alternate columns.
Origin:
1610–20; < LL systēma < Gk sýstēma whole compounded of several parts, equiv. to sy- sy- + stē- (var. s. of histánai to cause to stand; akin to L stāre to stand ) + -ma n. suffix denoting result of action

Related forms:
sys⋅tem⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
1. organization. 7. cosmos. 9b. organism.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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System
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sys·tem   (sĭs'təm)   
n.  

  1. A group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements forming a complex whole.

  2. A functionally related group of elements, especially:

    1. The human body regarded as a functional physiological unit.

    2. An organism as a whole, especially with regard to its vital processes or functions.

    3. A group of physiologically or anatomically complementary organs or parts: the nervous system; the skeletal system.

    4. A group of interacting mechanical or electrical components.

    5. A network of structures and channels, as for communication, travel, or distribution.

    6. A network of related computer software, hardware, and data transmission devices.

  3. An organized set of interrelated ideas or principles.

  4. A social, economic, or political organizational form.

  5. A naturally occurring group of objects or phenomena: the solar system.

  6. A set of objects or phenomena grouped together for classification or analysis.

  7. A condition of harmonious, orderly interaction.

  8. An organized and coordinated method; a procedure. See Synonyms at method.

  9. The prevailing social order; the establishment. Used with the: You can't beat the system.


[Late Latin systēma, systēmat-, from Greek sustēma, from sunistanai, to combine : sun-, syn- + histanai, set up, establish; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
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

system

A group of bodily organs that have similar structures or work together to perform some function, such as the digestive system, nervous system, and respiratory system.

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

system 
1619, "the whole creation, the universe," from L.L. systema "an arrangement, system," from Gk. systema "organized whole, body," from syn- "together" + root of histanai "cause to stand" from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Meaning "set of correlated principles, facts, ideas, etc." first recorded 1638. Meaning "animal body as an organized whole, sum of the vital processes in an organism" is recorded from 1683; hence fig. phrase to get (something) out of one's system (1900). Computer sense of "group of related programs" is recorded from 1963. All systems go (1962) is from U.S. space program.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: sys·tem
Pronunciation: 'sis-t&m
Function: noun
1 a : a group of body organs that together perform one or more vital functions—see CIRCULATORY SYSTEM, NERVOUSSYSTEM, REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM b : the body considered as a functional unit
2 : a manner of classifying, symbolizing, or schematizing system>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

system sys·tem (sĭs'təm)
n.

  1. A group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements forming a complex whole.

  2. An organism or body considered as a whole, especially with regard to its vital processes or functions.

  3. A group of physiologically or anatomically complementary organs or parts.

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

system
1. The supervisor program or operating system on a computer.
2. The entire computer system, including input/output devices, the supervisor program or operating system and possibly other software.
3. Any large program.
4. Any method or algorithm.
[The Jargon File]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Idioms & Phrases

system

see all systems go; out of one's system.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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