— synaptic /si nap"tik/ , synaptical , adj. — synaptically , adv.
/si nap"sis/ , n. , pl. synapses /-seez/ .
1. Also called syndesis . Cell Biol. the pairing of homologous chromosomes, one from each parent, during early meiosis.
2. Physiol. synapse.
[ 1645-55; sýnapsis junction, equiv. to synap- (s. of synáptein to make contact, equiv. to syn- SYN- + ( h)áptein to touch) + -sis -SIS ]