syncytium

[ sin-sish-uhm, -ee-uhm ]

noun

, Biology.

, plural syn·cy·tia [sin-, sish, -, uh, -, sish, -ee-, uh].

1. a multinucleate mass of cytoplasm that is not separated into cells.

syncytium

/ sɪnˈsɪtɪəm /

noun

1. zoology a mass of cytoplasm containing many nuclei and enclosed in a cell membrane

Derived Forms

• synˈcytial, adjective

Other Words From

• syn·cy·tial [sin-, sish, -, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of syncytium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; syn-, cyto-, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of syncytium¹

C19: New Latin; see syn- , cyto- , -ium

Example Sentences

Instead the cells of their primitive nervous system, known as a nerve net, are fused together, forming a syncytium—“an entirely new way to build a nervous system,” Dunn says.

From Scientific American

If we keep at it, we will become a computer to end all computers, capable of fusing all the thoughts of the world into a syncytium.

From Literature

Externally is a thin cuticle; this covers the epidermis, which consists of a syncytium with no cell limits.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside the syncytium is a not very regular layer of circular muscle fibres, and within this again some rather scattered longitudinal fibres; there is no endothelium.

From Project Gutenberg