syncopate

[ sing-kuh-peyt, sin- ]

/ ˈsɪŋ kəˌpeɪt, ˈsɪn- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR syncopate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), syn·co·pat·ed, syn·co·pat·ing.

Music.

to place (the accents) on beats that are normally unaccented.
to treat (a passage, piece, etc.) in this way.

Grammar. to contract (a word) by omitting one or more sounds from the middle, as in reducing Gloucester to Gloster.

Nearby words

synclitic, synclitism, synclonus, syncom, syncopal, syncopate, syncopated, syncopation, syncope, syncopic, syncretism

Origin of syncopate

First recorded in 1595–1605, syncopate is from the Medieval Latin word syncopātus (past participle of syncopāre to shorten by syncope). See syncope, -ate¹

Related forms

syn·co·pa·tor, noun

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

Examples from the Web for syncopate

Syncopate and curtail a greenish mineral, and leave a Turkish officer.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878|Various
Syncopate and curtail a sweet substance, and leave an agricultural implement.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878|Various
Syncopate and curtail a carpenter's tool, and leave an insect.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878|Various
Syncopate a short, ludicrous play, and leave a part of the body.
St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, May, 1878, No. 7.|Various

Syncopate and curtail a motive power, and leave a body of water.
St. Nicholas, Vol. 5, No. 5, March, 1878|Various

British Dictionary definitions for syncopate

syncopate

/ (ˈsɪŋkəˌpeɪt) /

verb (tr)

music to modify or treat (a beat, rhythm, note, etc) by syncopation

to shorten (a word) by omitting sounds or letters from the middle

Derived Forms

syncopator, noun

Word Origin for syncopate

C17: from Medieval Latin syncopāre to omit a letter or syllable, from Late Latin syncopa syncope

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012