synthesizer
synthesizer Lexical Profile
synthesizer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An electronic musical instrument, typically operated by a keyboard, that produces a wide variety of sounds by generating and combining electrical signals of different frequencies.
"The band's distinctive 1980s sound relied heavily on a vintage analog synthesizer."
A device or software program that artificially constructs complex chemical compounds, speech, or other outputs from simpler raw components.
"The laboratory installed a new DNA synthesizer to accelerate the production of custom genetic sequences."
A person or thing that brings together diverse ideas, data, or elements to form a new, coherent whole.
"As a masterful synthesizer of historical theories, the author managed to unite decades of conflicting research into one readable volume."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, the word is commonly spelled 'synthesiser'.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the verb 'synthesize' and the agent suffix '-er'. 'Synthesize' comes from the Greek 'synthesis', meaning 'a putting together'. The term was first applied to electronic musical instruments in the mid-20th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.