n.
Pronunciation: sin- ' the-tik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek synthetikos of composition, component, from syntithenai to put together
Date: 1697
1 : relating to or involving synthesis : not analytic <the synthetic aspects of a philosophy>
2 : attributing to a subject something determined by observation rather than analysis of the nature of the subject and not resulting in self-contradiction if negated ― compare ANALYTIC
3 : characterized by frequent and systematic use of inflected forms to express grammatical relationships < synthetic languages>
4 a (1) : of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis especially : produced artificially < synthetic drugs> < synthetic silk> (2) : of or relating to a synfuel b : devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities c : FACTITIOUS , BOGUS
– syn · thet · i · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb