Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

synapse

/ˈsɪnæps/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.76 in modern English

Syllables
synapse
IPA
/ˈsɪnæps/
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The junction between the terminal of a neuron and either another neuron or a muscle or gland cell, over which nerve impulses pass.

verb

To form a synapse.

Intransitive verb

verb

To undergo synapsis.

Intransitive verb

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek σύναψις (súnapsis, “conjunction”), from συνάπτω (sunáptō, “to clasp”). Introduced by neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington.

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

synapses (plural) synapses (present, singular) synapsing (participle, present) synapsed (participle, past) synapsed (past)

Derived Forms

antisynapse chemosynapse glycosynapse hemisynapse immunosynapse monosynapse multisynapse neosynapse neurosynapse postsynapse presynapse protosynapse

Frequently Paired Words

synaptic axon dendrite ephapse

Rhymes With

perhaps maps collapse caps traps taps lapse scraps relapse flaps slaps chaps

Questions

How do you pronounce synapse?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɪnæps/.
What does synapse mean?
The junction between the terminal of a neuron and either another neuron or a muscle or gland cell, over which nerve impulses pass.
Where does synapse come from?
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek σύναψις (súnapsis, “conjunction”), from συνάπτω (sunáptō, “to clasp”). Introduced by neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington.

How to pronounce synapse

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “synapse”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsɪnæps/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “synapse”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “synapse” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.