syncytium

[sin-sish-uh m, -ee-uh m]

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.

Origin of syncytium

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

Related formssyn·cy·tial

[sin-sish-uh l] /sɪnˈsɪʃ əl/, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for syncytial

syncytium

noun plural -cytia (-ˈsɪtɪə)

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

Derived Formssyncytial, 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

Word Origin and History for syncytial

adj.

1895, "pertaining to a syncytium" (1877), Modern Latin, from Greek syn "together" (see syn-) + kytos "receptacle, vessel," used in biology for "cell" (see cyto-).

syncytial in Medicine

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.

Related formssyn•cy′ti•al adj.