Definition of: synthetic

(sin·thet′ik) adjective
1. Pertaining to or of the nature of synthesis; characterized by or consisting in synthesis; specifically, tending to reduce particulars to inclusive wholes: a synthetic mind.
2. Chem. Produced by the synthesis of simpler materials or substances: synthetic rubber.
3. Artificial; spurious.
4. Ling. Describing a language that utilizes inflectional affixes for the expression of relationships between words, as in Latin; inflectional: opposed to analytic. Also syn·thet′i·cal.
—noun
1. Anything produced by synthesis.
2. Chem. A synthesized compound adapted for use as a substitute for some other material or substance. [<F synthétique <NL syntheticus <Gk. synthetikos <synthetos compounded <syntithenai <syn- together + tithenai place]
—syn·thet′i·cal·ly adverb