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

The mystical Russian composer experienced synesthesia, the neurological condition in which the brain involuntarily associates one sense with another.

From Los Angeles Times

As stoner food, the Latona Pub crunch wrap seems like it would be deliriously delicious, possibly inducing synesthesia.

From Seattle Times

You’ll notice the way synesthesia guides his pen, and you’ll pick up his themes of exile, wonder, the afterlife and the privacy and primacy of marriage.

From New York Times

The future of human-machine interfaces is on the cusp of a revolution with the unveiling of a groundbreaking technology -- a stretchable high-resolution multicolor synesthesia display that generates synchronized sound and light as input/output sources.

From Science Daily

Art historians say that the painter had the condition, or gift, of synesthesia: he could look at a colour and hear music.

From BBC