syncytium

[ sin-sish-uhm, -ee-uhm ]

/ sɪnˈsɪʃ əm, -i əm /

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noun, plural syn·cy·tia

[sin-sish-uh, -sish-ee-uh]. /sɪnˈsɪʃ ə, -ˈsɪʃ i ə/. Biology.

a multinucleate mass of cytoplasm that is not separated into cells.

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Origin of syncytium

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at syn-, cyto-, -ium

OTHER WORDS FROM syncytium

syn·cy·tial

[sin-sish-uhl], /sɪnˈsɪʃ əl/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

British Dictionary definitions for syncytium

syncytium

/ (sɪnˈsɪtɪəm) /

noun plural -cytia (-ˈsɪtɪə)

zoology a mass of cytoplasm containing many nuclei and enclosed in a cell membrane

Derived forms of syncytium

syncytial, adjective

Word Origin for syncytium

C19: New Latin; see syn-, cyto-, -ium

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

Medical definitions for syncytium

syncytium

[ sĭn-sĭsh′ē-əm ]

n. pl. syn•cy•ti•a (-sĭsh′ē-ə)

A mass of cytoplasm having many nuclei but no internal cell boundaries.

Other words from syncytium

syn•cy′ti•al adj.