I. (ˈ)sin|thed.]ik, sənˈth-, -et], ]ēk adjective
also syn·thet·i·cal ]ə̇kəl, ]ēk-\
Etymology: Greek synthetikos skilled in putting together, component, from synthetos put together, compounded, composed (from syntithenai to put together) + -ikos -ic, -ical — more at synthesis
1.
a. : relating to or involving synthesis
limnology is essentially a synthetic science composed of elements … which extend well beyond the limits of biology — P.S.Welch
b. : not analytic
the synthetic aspects of a philosophy
2.
a. : attributing to a subject a predicate that is not contained in the essence of that subject
b. : having the truth determined by observation or the facts of experience
c. : not resulting in a contradiction upon being negated
3. of a language : characterized by synthesis : inflectional
Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, and Turkish are synthetic languages
— contrasted with analytic
4.
a. : of, relating to, or being a taxonomic category retained for reasons of convenience but not regarded as constituting a natural unit
b. : of, relating to, or being a group deliberately produced by combining genes in a manner unlikely to occur in nature
a synthetic tetraploid variety produced by colchicine
5. of an organ stop : composed of two or more pipes for each tone
synthetic clarinet
6.
a. : produced by artificial processes either from relatively simple substances or from naturally occurring sometimes complex substances : man-made
synthetic quartz
synthetic indigo
natural and synthetic dyes
synthetic plastics
— compare semisynthetic
b. : devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities
synthetic diet
synthetic mock-up for pilots' ground training
: employing or concerning such devices or fabrications instead of actualities
synthetic flight instruction
c. : patently produced or maintained by special effort and therefore often forced, constrained, distorted, or simulated : not natural or spontaneous : spurious , factitious
no comfort I could have offered that wouldn't have sounded synthetic — Norman Cousins
producing synthetic books to suit fancied trends — John Farrar
7. of cubist art : involving the composing of pictorial objects without the restrictions of natural appearances or relations — opposed to analytical ; compare cubism
Synonyms: see artificial
II. noun
( -s )
: something produced by synthesis rather than natural growth ; especially : a yarn or fabric (as nylon) made by chemical synthesis usually of hydrocarbons