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# synthetic

adjective (synthetic); noun (a synthetic, synthetics)

«synthetic» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Synthetic means made by people from chemicals or in a factory, not naturally grown or found: synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester and plastic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m1)
2. Synthetic also means fake or artificial: synthetic flavours, synthetic diamonds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m2)
3. (noun) Synthetics are synthetic materials or fabrics. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m3)
4. (formal, science) Synthetic can mean made by combining parts into a whole (synthesis). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science lessons materials are sorted into natural (wool, cotton, wood) and synthetic (nylon, polyester, acrylic, plastics); pupils compare their properties, such as strength and waterproofing, and discuss pollution from microplastics. On food labels, synthetic colourings may be listed. Phrases: "synthetic fibre", "synthetic rubber", "synthetic grass", "synthetic drug".

### Examples

- Nylon is a synthetic fibre. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x1)
- My raincoat is made of a synthetic material that keeps water out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x2)
- Wool is natural, but polyester is synthetic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x3)
- The pitch has synthetic grass, so it never needs mowing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x4)
- Synthetic rubber is made from oil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x5)
- Synthetic diamonds are made in labs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x6)
- Washing synthetics can release tiny plastic bits into the sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x7)

### Note

Opposite: natural. Related: synthesis, synthesise. Synthetic does not always mean worse; many synthetic materials are very useful, such as medicines and safety gear.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «synthetic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«synthetic» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/synthetic.html) on Mova free.