synapse
/ˈsɪæps/SIH-aps
/ˈsɪæps/SIH-aps
Meaninga fastening together
Common meaning: a junction between nerve cells
- syntogether, at once
- apsto fasten; to touchLiddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), p. 209 · scan
‘together, at once’ + ‘to fasten’ → synapse
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Built on Greek ἅπτω ‘to fasten; to touch’.
Roots
- ἅπτω Greek “to fasten; to touch”
Related words
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