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syncytium

American  
[sin-sish-uhm, -ee-uhm] / sɪnˈsɪʃ əm, -i əm /

noun

Biology.
syncytia plural
  1. a multinucleate mass of cytoplasm that is not separated into cells.


syncytium British  
/ sɪnˈsɪtɪəm /

noun

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

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of syncytium

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

Vocabulary lists containing syncytium

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The epidermis can be either a single layer of cells or a syncytium, which is a multinucleated cell formed from the fusion of uninucleated cells.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Attached cells form long, branching cardiac muscle fibers that are, essentially, a mechanical and electrochemical syncytium allowing the cells to synchronize their actions.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

This network of electrically connected cardiac muscle cells creates a functional unit of contraction called a syncytium.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The cells are interconnected physically and electrochemically to act as a syncytium.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

If we keep at it, we will become a computer to end all computers, capable of fusing all the thoughts of the world into a syncytium.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

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