symbiotic

[sim-bee-ot-ik, -bahy-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR symbiotic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

living in symbiosis, or having an interdependent relationship: Many people feel the relationship between humans and dogs is symbiotic.

Sometimes sym·bi·ot·i·cal.

Origin of symbiotic

symbio(sis) + -tic

Related formssym·bi·ot·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·sym·bi·ot·ic, adjectivenon·sym·bi·ot·i·cal, adjectivenon·sym·bi·ot·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for symbiotic

harmonious, collegial, interdependent, united, concerted, reciprocal, accessible, useful, valuable, cooperative, supportive, sympathetic, productive, advantageous, convenient, crucial, friendly, conducive, profitable, constructive

Examples from the Web for symbiotic

Contemporary Examples of symbiotic

The symbiotic relationship is part of what The Plant calls its closed-loop system.
Vertical Indoor Farms Are Growing in the U.S.
Miranda Green
May 7, 2013
There is a symbiotic and cooperative relationship between Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza and those in Sinai.
Hamas’s Desengaño With Morsi
Hussein Ibish
March 11, 2013
They had, according to Morgen, “a wonderful, symbiotic relationship with the press.”
‘Crossfire Hurricane’ Chronicles Rolling Stones’ Road to Rock Immortality
Marlow Stern
November 15, 2012
That mat is actually a culture: in technical terms, a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast.
Is Celebrity Favorite Kombucha Really a Health and Anti-Aging Cure?
Anneli Rufus
February 28, 2012
The symbiotic relationship between television and local officials played a huge role.
A Hurricane of Hype
Howard Kurtz
August 28, 2011

Historical Examples of symbiotic

Symbiotic: species that live together in a state of symbiosis.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology
John. B. Smith
The peculiar yellow cells which are found in the central capsule of many Acantharia are symbiotic xanthell (see 76).
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel
This would point to the symbiotic character of galls and their guests.
Disease in Plants
H. Marshall Ward
The light of one animal at least, and I believe many others also, cannot be due to any sort of symbiotic organism.
The Nature of Animal Light
E. Newton Harvey
Pierantoni has considered the granules to be symbiotic luminous bacteria, but this is certainly not the case.
The Nature of Animal Light
E. Newton Harvey

Word Origin and History for symbiotic

adj.

1882, in biology, from symbiosis. Of human activities, from 1951.

symbiotic in Medicine

symbiotic

[sĭm′bē-ŏt′ĭk, -bī-]

adj.

Of, resembling, or relating to symbiosis.

symbiotic in Science

symbiosis

[sĭm′bē-ō′sĭs]

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.

Related formssymbiotic adjective