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syn·ap·sis

(sĭ-năpsĭs)

n. pl. syn·ap·ses (-sēz)

The side-by-side association of homologous chromosomes during the first prophase of meiosis.

[New Latin, from Greek sunapsis, point of contact; see SYNAPSE.]

syn·apse

(sĭnăps′, sĭ-năps)

The junction across which a nerve impulse passes from an axon terminal to a neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell.

intr.v. syn·apsed, syn·aps·ing, syn·aps·es

1. To form a synapse.

2. To undergo synapsis.

[Greek sunapsis, point of contact, from sunaptein, to join together : sun-, syn- + haptein, to fasten.]

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synapse

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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