syphi|lis /s I f I l I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Syphilis is a serious disease which is passed on through sexual intercourse.
sy|phon /sa I f ə n/ → see siphon
Syr|ian /s I riən/ (Syrians )
1 ADJ Syrian means belonging or relating to Syria, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT A Syrian is a Syrian citizen, or a person of Syrian origin.
sy|ringe /s I r I ndʒ/ (syringes ) N‑COUNT A syringe is a small tube with a thin hollow needle at the end. Syringes are used for putting liquids into things and for taking liquids out, for example for injecting drugs or for taking blood from someone's body.
syr|up /s I rəp/ (syrups )
1 N‑VAR Syrup is a sweet liquid made by cooking sugar with water, and sometimes with fruit juice as well. □ …canned fruit with sugary syrup.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Syrup is a very sweet thick liquid made from sugar. □ …a heavy syrup pudding.
3 → see also golden syrup , maple syrup
4 N‑VAR Syrup is a medicine in the form of a thick, sweet liquid. □ …cough syrup.
syr|upy /s I rəpi/
1 ADJ Liquid that is syrupy is sweet or thick like syrup.
2 ADJ If you describe something as syrupy , you dislike it because it is too sentimental. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …this syrupy film version of Conroy's novel.
sys|tem ◆◆◆ /s I stəm/ (systems )
1 N‑COUNT A system is a way of working, organizing, or doing something which follows a fixed plan or set of rules. You can use system to refer to an organization or institution that is organized in this way. □ …a flexible and relatively efficient filing system. □ [+ of ] …a multi-party system of government.
2 N‑COUNT A system is a set of devices powered by electricity, for example a computer or an alarm. □ Viruses tend to be good at surviving when a computer system crashes.
3 N‑COUNT A system is a set of equipment or parts such as water pipes or electrical wiring, which is used to supply water, heat, or electricity. □ …a central heating system.
4 N‑COUNT A system is a network of things that are linked together so that people or things can travel from one place to another or communicate. □ …Australia's road and rail system. □ …a news channel on a local cable system.
5 N‑COUNT Your system is your body's organs and other parts that together perform particular functions. □ These gases would seriously damage the patient's respiratory system.
6 N‑COUNT A system is a particular set of rules, especially in mathematics or science, which is used to count or measure things. □ [+ of ] …the decimal system of metric weights and measures.
7 N‑SING People sometimes refer to the government or administration of a country as the system . □ These feelings are likely to make people attempt to overthrow the system.
8 → see also central nervous system , digestive system , ecosystem , immune system , metric system , nervous system , public address system , solar system , sound system
9 PHRASE If you get something out of your system , you take some action so that you no longer want to do it or no longer have strong feelings about it. □ I want to get boxing out of my system and settle down to enjoy family life.
sys|tem|at|ic /s I stəmæ t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is done in a systematic way is done according to a fixed plan, in a thorough and efficient way. □ They had not found any evidence of a systematic attempt to rig the ballot. ● sys|tem|ati|cal|ly /s I stəmæ t I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ The army has systematically violated human rights. □ She began applying systematically to colleges.
sys|tema|tize /s I stəməta I z/ (systematizes , systematizing , systematized ) in BRIT, also use systematise VERB If you systematize things, you make them organized. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] You need to systematize your approach to problem solving. [Also V ] ● sys|tema|ti|za|tion /s I stəməta I ze I ʃ ə n, [AM ] -t I z-/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …a systematization of management practice.
sys|tem|ic /s I stiː m I k/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Systemic means affecting the whole of something. [FORMAL ] □ The economy is locked in a systemic crisis.
2 ADJ Systemic chemicals or drugs are absorbed into the whole of an organism such as a plant or person, rather than being applied to one area. [TECHNICAL ]
sy s|tems a na|lyst (systems analysts ) N‑COUNT A systems analyst is someone whose job is to decide what computer equipment and software a company needs, and to provide it.
Tt
T , t /tiː / (T's, t's ) N‑VAR T is the twentieth letter of the English alphabet.
ta /tɑː / CONVENTION Ta means 'thank you'. [BRIT , INFORMAL , FORMULAE ]
tab /tæ b/ (tabs )
1 N‑COUNT A tab is a small piece of cloth or paper that is attached to something, usually with information about that thing written on it. □ A stupid medical clerk had slipped the wrong tab on his X-ray.
2 N‑COUNT A tab is the total cost of goods or services that you have to pay, or the bill for those goods or services. [mainly AM ] □ At least one estimate puts the total tab at $7 million.
3 N‑COUNT A tab is a metal strip that you pull off the top of a can of drink in order to open it.
4 N‑COUNT A tab is a drug, especially one that is sold illegally, which is in tablet form. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] He was prosecuted for possessing a hundred tabs of ecstasy