symbiosis

[ sim-bee-oh-sis, -bahy- ]

noun

, plural sym·bi·o·ses [sim-bee-, oh, -seez, -bahy-].

1. Biology.
   1. the living together of two dissimilar organisms, as in mutualism, commensalism, amensalism, or parasitism.
   2. (formerly) mutualism ( def 1 ).
2. Psychiatry. a relationship between two people in which each person is dependent upon and receives reinforcement, whether beneficial or detrimental, from the other.
3. Psychoanalysis. the relationship between an infant and their mother in which the infant is dependent on the mother both physically and emotionally.
4. any interdependent or mutually beneficial relationship between two persons, groups, etc.

symbiosis

/ ˌsɪmbɪˈəʊsɪs; ˌsɪmbaɪˈəʊsɪs /

noun

1. a close and usually obligatory association of two organisms of different species that live together, often to their mutual benefit
2. a similar relationship between interdependent persons or groups

symbiosis

/ sĭm′bē-ō′sĭs /

1. The close association between two or more organisms of different species, often but not necessarily benefiting each member. The association of algae and fungi in lichens and of bacteria living in the intestines or on the skin of animals are forms of symbiosis. Some scientists believe that many multicellular organisms evolved from symbiotic relationships between unicellular ones and that the DNA-containing organelles within certain eukaryotic cells (such as mitochondria and chloroplasts) are the product of symbiotic relationships in which the participants became interdependent. There are four forms of symbiosis: amensalism , commensalism , mutualism , and parasitism .

symbiosis

1. The process by which two organisms live together, usually to their mutual benefit. An example of a symbiotic pair are cows and the bacteria that live in their digestive tracts, enabling them to digest cellulose in grass.

Derived Forms

• ˌsymbiˈotic, adjective

Other Words From

• sym·bi·ot·ic [sim-bee-, ot, -ik, -bahy-], sym·bi·ot·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of symbiosis¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Greek symbíōsis, equivalent to sym- sym- + biō (variant stem of bioûn “to live”) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of symbiosis¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek: a living together; see symbiont

Example Sentences

He and Antetokounmpo amplify each other’s strengths and mitigate the other’s weaknesses, and they’re a wonderful duo because of that symbiosis.

From FiveThirtyEight

Scientists want to know if this symbiosis holds up in microgravity.

From Popular-Science

If you’re not aware that you’re in this deep symbiosis, you’ll do crazy stuff that’s not good for the overall equilibrium.

From Nautilus

We exist in an uneasy symbiosis with this dataome, whose interests may not always align with ours even though the information it carries for us is critical for our evolutionary success.

From Nautilus

The study suggests that counter-intuitive to common belief, AI seems to be better at decoding brain signals that underlie our more complex behaviors, rather than simple ones—an invitation to reimagine the potential of a brain-computer symbiosis.

From Singularity Hub 

A professional ballroom dancer and instructor, her name reflects a parallel that runs in both BDSM and dance: symbiosis.

From The Daily Beast

He points to the “symbiosis” of plot coming out of character development.

From The Daily Beast

Regardless, the symbiosis between the Democratic Party and Silicon Valley is, on a real level, disquieting.

From The Daily Beast

The pig and Kris live in symbiosis, sharing feelings and visions with one another.

From The Daily Beast

Are Anna and Grace opposites doing different things or is there symbiosis?

From The Daily Beast

It is probably caused by two micro-organisms living in symbiosis—one a fusiform bacillus, the other a long spirillum (Fig. 124).

From Project Gutenberg

They're bored through and through with animal runs, and two or three species of beasts live in a sort of symbiosis inside.

From Project Gutenberg

This ranges from a complete destruction of the host by the parasite to a harmless and even advantageous symbiosis.

From Project Gutenberg

Symbiosis is found among the protista, being very wide-spread among the radiolaria.

From Project Gutenberg

Since then, naturalists have often insisted upon the importance of various forms of symbiosis.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• body
• existence
• growth
• living
• man
• person
• soul
• survival
• woman