[syn.o.nym] n [ME sinonyme, fr. L synonymum, fr. Gk synonymon, fr. neut. of synonymos synonymous, fr. syn- + onyma name--more at name] (15c) 1: one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses
2: a symbolic or figurative name: metonym
3: a taxonomic name rejected as being incorrectly applied or incorrect in form--compare homonym -- syn.o.nym.ic also syn.o.nym.i.cal adj -- syn.o.nym.i.ty n