29 December 2012


symbiosis

  
 

sym·bi·o·sis

  [sim-bee-oh-sis, -bahy-]  Show IPA
noun, plural sym·bi·o·ses  [-seez]  Show IPA .
1.
Biology .
a.
the living together of two dissimilar organisms, as inmutualism, commensalism, amensalism, or parasitism.
b.
(formerly) mutualism  def 1 .
2.
Psychiatry. a relationship between two people in which eachperson is dependent upon and receives reinforcement, whetherbeneficial or detrimental, from the other.
3.
Psychoanalysis the relationship between an infant and itsmother in which the infant is dependent on the mother bothphysically and emotionally.
4.
any interdependent or mutually beneficial relationship betweentwo persons, groups, etc.
Origin: 
1615–25;  < Greek symbíōsis,  equivalent to sym- sym- + biō  (variantstem of bioûn  to live) + -sis -sis