Psychiatry. a relationship between two people in which each person is dependent upon and receives reinforcement, whether beneficial or detrimental, from the other.
Psychoanalysis. the relationship between an infant and its mother in which the infant is dependent on the mother both physically and emotionally.
any interdependent or mutually beneficial relationship between two persons, groups, etc.
Origin of symbiosis
1615–25; < Greeksymbíōsis, equivalent to sym-sym- + biō (variant stem of bioûn to live) + -sis-sis
Related formssym·bi·ot·ic[sim-bee-ot-ik, -bahy-]/ˌsɪm biˈɒt ɪk, -baɪ-/, sym·bi·ot·i·cal, adjective
1877, as a biological term, "mutually beneficial association of two different organisms," from Modern Latin, from Greek symbiosis "a living together," from symbioun "live together," from symbios "(one) living together (with another), partner," from syn- "together" (see syn-) + bios "life" (see bio-). Given a wider (non-biological) sense by 1921. An earlier sense of "communal or social life" is found in 1620s.
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.
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.
