symbiosis

symbiosis
—symbiotic /sim'bee ot"ik, -buy-/, symbiotical, adj. —symbiotically, adv.
/sim'bee oh"sis, -buy-/, n., pl. symbioses /-seez/.
1. Biol.
a. the living together of two dissimilar organisms, as in mutualism, commensalism, amensalism, or parasitism.
b. (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. Psychoanal. the relationship between an infant and its 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.
[1615-25; < Gk symbíosis, equiv. to sym- SYM- + bio (var. s. of bioûn to live) + -sis -SIS]

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Any of several living arrangements between members of two different species, including commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism.

The species involved are called symbionts. In commensalism, one species (the commensal) obtains nutrients, shelter, support, or locomotion from the host species, which is substantially unaffected (e.g., remoras obtain locomotion and food from sharks). In mutualism, both species benefit. Many mutualistic relationships are obligative; neither species can live without the other (e.g., protozoans in the gut of termites digest the wood ingested by the termites).

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      any of several living arrangements between members of two different species, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism (qq.v.). Both positive (beneficial) and negative (unfavourable to harmful) associations are therefore included, and the members are called symbionts.

      Any association between two species populations that live together is symbiotic, whether the species benefit, harm, or have no effect on one another.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Symbiosis — Sym bi*o sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. symbi wsis a living together, symbioy^n to live together; sy n with + ? to live.] (Biol.) The living together in more or less imitative association or even close union of two dissimilar organisms. In a broad sense… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • symbiosis — 1877, as a biological term, mutually beneficial association of two different organisms, from Mod.L., from Gk. symbiosis a living together, from symbioun live together, from symbios (one) living together (with another), partner, from syn together… …   Etymology dictionary

  • symbiosis — [sim΄bī ō′sis, sim΄bēō′sis] n. [ModL < Gr symbiōsis < symbioun, to live together < syn , together + bios, life: see BIO ] 1. Biol. the intimate living together of two kinds of organisms, esp. if such association is of mutual advantage:… …   English World dictionary

  • symbiosis — symbiosis. См. симбиоз. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • symbiosis — index coalescence Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • symbiosis — ► NOUN (pl. symbioses) Biology ▪ interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, especially to the advantage of both. DERIVATIVES symbiotic adjective. ORIGIN Greek sumbi sis , from sumbioun live together …   English terms dictionary

  • Symbiosis — Symbiology redirects here. For use of things that represent other things by association, resemblance, or convention, see Symbology. This article is about the biological phenomenon. For other uses, see Symbiosis (disambiguation). For the Marvel… …   Wikipedia

  • symbiosis — [[t]sɪ̱mbio͟ʊsɪs, baɪ [/t]] 1) N UNCOUNT Symbiosis is a close relationship between two organisms of different kinds which benefits both organisms. [TECHNICAL] ...the link between bacteria, symbiosis, and the evolution of plants and animals. 2) N… …   English dictionary

  • symbiosis — noun (plural symbioses) Etymology: New Latin, from German Symbiose, from Greek symbiōsis state of living together, from symbioun to live together, from symbios living together, from syn + bios life more at quick Date: 1622 1. the living together… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Symbiosis — Symbiose Pour les articles homonymes, voir symbiose (homonymie). Association symbiotique d une bactérie et de l aulne dans un nodule f …   Wikipédia en Français

  • symbiosis — n. [Gr. symbiosis, life together] 1. The mutually beneficial living together of individuals of two different species. 2. Interrelationship of different species of organisms, ranging from beneficial, to neutral, to dehabilitating; symbiotic a; see …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

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