Symbiosis
noun /ˌsɪmbɪˈəʊsɪs/ — A mutually beneficial relationship between two different organisms.
Definition
Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both; a relationship of mutual dependence and benefit.
Beyond the definition
Symbiosis in nature is the principle that interdependence can be generative. The clownfish and the anemone. The fig tree and its wasp. Applied to human relationships, it describes the ideal of partnership: not two becoming one, but two remaining distinct and each made more by the relationship.
Origin & history
From Greek symbiosis (a living together), from sym- (together) + bios (life). First used in biology in the 1870s; the sense of mutual benefit as opposed to parasitism was clarified by subsequent research.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The coral reef is a vast symbiosis — thousands of species interdependent in ways science is still mapping.
Their creative partnership was symbiosis — each made more capable by the other's complement.
The city and its hinterland exist in a symbiosis that becomes visible only when either is damaged.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Symbiosis” when the meaning fits your context: Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both; a relationship of mutual dependence and benefit.
Synonyms
mutualism, interdependence, partnership
Antonyms
parasitism, competition, isolation
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Symbiosis" mean?
Symbiosis is noun meaning: A mutually beneficial relationship between two different organisms.. Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both; a relationship of mutual dependence and benefit.
Where does the word "Symbiosis" come from?
From Greek symbiosis (a living together), from sym- (together) + bios (life). First used in biology in the 1870s; the sense of mutual benefit as opposed to parasitism was clarified by subsequent research.