symbiosis
noun/ˌsɪmbaɪˈəʊsɪs/
/ˌsɪmbaɪˈəʊsɪs/
[uncountable, countable] (plural symbioses
/ˌsɪmbaɪˈəʊsiːz/
/ˌsɪmbaɪˈəʊsiːz/
)- (biology) the relationship between two different living creatures that live close together and depend on each other in particular ways, each getting particular benefits from the other
- The birds live in symbiosis with the cattle, picking insects from their skin to eat.
- a relationship between people, companies, etc. that is to the advantage of both
- She imagined us living in a perfect mother and daughter symbiosis.
Word Originlate 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek sumbiōsis ‘a living together’, from sumbioun ‘live together’, from sumbios ‘companion’.
Check pronunciation:
symbiosis