photosynthesize

[ foh-tuh-sin-thuh-sahyz ]

verb (used without object),pho·to·syn·the·sized, pho·to·syn·the·siz·ing.
  1. to produce carbohydrates by photosynthesis: Plants with light green leaves don't photosynthesize as well as those with darker leaves.

verb (used with object),pho·to·syn·the·sized, pho·to·syn·the·siz·ing.
  1. to produce by photosynthesis: Plants photosynthesize sugars from carbon dioxide and water.

Origin of photosynthesize

1
First recorded in 1905–10; photo- + synthesize

Words Nearby photosynthesize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use photosynthesize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for photosynthesize

photosynthesize

photosynthesise

/ (ˌfəʊtəʊˈsɪnθɪˌsaɪz) /


verb
  1. (of plants and some bacteria) to carry out photosynthesis

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