symbiotic

WOTD – 25 June 2008    

English

Etymology

From symbiosis, from Ancient Greek συμβίωσις (sumbiōsis), from σύν (sun, “with”) + βίος (bios, “life”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɒt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɒt.ɪk/
• (US) IPA: /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɑt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɑt.ɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒtɪk

Adjective

symbiotic (not comparable)

1. (biology) Of, or relating to symbiosis; living together.

   A lichen is a fungus with symbiotic algae among its cells.

2. Of a relationship with mutual benefit between two individuals or organisms.

Usage notes

Although the biologic meaning of symbiotic strictly refers to "living together", regardless of the nature of the relationship, in casual speech the word typically implies a beneficial relationship.

Synonyms

• (with mutual benefit): mutualistic

Derived terms

• symbiotically

Related terms

• symbiont
• symbiote

Translations

biology: living together

• Catalan: simbiòtic (ca)
• Czech: symbiotický (cs) m
• Finnish: symbioottinen (fi)
• French: symbiotique (fr) m and f

• Italian: simbiotico (it) m
• Macedonian: симбиотичен (mk) (simbiótičen) m, взаемен (mk) (vzáemen) m
• Spanish: simbiótico (es)
• Swedish: symbiotisk (sv)

having a mutually beneficial relationship

• Catalan: simbiòtic (ca)
• Finnish: symbioottinen (fi)
• French: symbiotique (fr) m and f

• Italian: simbiotico (it) m
• Macedonian: взаемен (mk) (vzáemen) m
• Spanish: simbiótico (es)

Noun

symbiotic (plural symbiotics)

1. (astronomy) symbiotic star