I. ˈsiˌnaps, sə̇ˈn- noun
( plural synaps·es -psə̇z)
Etymology: New Latin synapsis, from Greek, contact, point of juncture, from synaptein to join together (from syn- + haptein to fasten) + -sis — more at apsis
1.
a. : the locus at which the nervous impulse passes from the axon of one neuron to the dendrites of another having the form of an actual boundary between the two nerve fibers or possibly only a surface of contact and constituting the polarizing and selective element typical of most of the nervous systems of the higher animals
b. : the function of affording such communication between neuron processes
2. : synapsis 1
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to form a synapse or come together in synapsis
nerve endings synapse in the ganglia