— synthetically , adv.
/sin thet"ik/ , adj.
1. of, pertaining to, proceeding by, or involving synthesis (opposed to analytic ).
2. noting or pertaining to compounds formed through a chemical process by human agency, as opposed to those of natural origin: synthetic vitamins; synthetic fiber.
3. (of a language) characterized by a relatively widespread use of affixes, rather than separate words, to express syntactic relationships: Latin is a synthetic language, while English is analytic. Cf. analytic (def. 3), polysynthetic (def. 1).
4. Also, synthetical . Logic. of or pertaining to a noncontradictory proposition in which the predicate is not included in, or entailed by, the subject.
5. not real or genuine; artificial; feigned: a synthetic chuckle at a poor joke.
6. Jewelry.
a. noting a gem mineral manufactured so as to be physically, chemically, and optically identical with the mineral as found in nature.
b. (not in technical use) noting a gem mineral manufactured and pigmented in imitation of a natural gemstone of that name.
n.
7. something made by a synthetic, or chemical, process.
8. synthetics .
a. substances or products made by chemical synthesis, as plastics or artificial fibers.
b. the science or industry concerned with such products.
[ 1690-1700; syntheticus synthetikós, equiv. to synthet ( ós ) placed together, verbid of syntithénai to put together ( syn- SYN- + the-, s. of tithénai to put, place + -tos verbid suffix) + -ikos -IC ]
Syn. 5. fake, phony, counterfeit, sham.