synesthesia

[ sin-uhs-thee-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh ]

noun

1. a sensation produced in one modality when a stimulus is applied to another modality, as when the hearing of a certain sound induces the visualization of a certain color.

synesthesia

/ ˌsɪniːsˈθɛtɪk; ˌsɪniːsˈθiːzɪə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of synaesthesia

Derived Forms

• synesthetic, adjective

Other Words From

• syn·es·thete [sin, -, uh, s-theet], noun
• syn·es·thet·ic [sin-, uh, s-, thet, -ik], adjective
• nonsyn·es·thetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of synesthesia¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from New Latin; syn-, esthesia

Example Sentences

Now we know more, but many questions remain and synesthesia still carries an exotic aura.

From Nautilus

Fortunately the scientific study of synesthesia grew from the late 19th century into the 20th, mainly using interviews and group surveys.

From Nautilus

One problem was the difficulty of tracking the many forms of synesthesia.

From Nautilus

Artists who’ve reported extraordinary experiences of synesthesia range from 19th-century composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov to contemporary artist David Hockney to pop music star Lady Gaga.

From Nautilus

In the 1980s, however, new approaches made synesthesia amenable to more rigorous and objective study and research has blossomed, with about 1,000 new publications since 2000.

From Nautilus

Her first book, about synesthesia, titled Tasting the Universe, will be out in March 2011 from New Page Books.

From The Daily Beast