synthetase

S1Y4N1T1H4E1T1A1S1E1
/ˈsɪnθəteɪ̯s//ˈsɪnθəteɪ̯z/

noun

Any enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of a biological compound.

Similar
synthase
OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) ← Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi →
Less commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounsynthetase (plural synthetases)

plural synthetases

  1. Any enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of a biological compound.

    Synonyms: synthase

  2. datedSuch an enzyme that, more specifically, uses ATP as a source of energy.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of a biological compound.

Similar
synthase
Also see
synthase

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱómder.?
  3. Proto-Indo-European*sem-der.?
  4. Proto-Hellenic*ksún
  5. Ancient Greekσύν (sún)
  6. Ancient Greekσυν- (sun-)
  7. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*dʰédʰeh₁ti
  9. Ancient Greekτίθημι (títhēmi)
  10. Ancient Greekσῠντῐ́θημῐ (sŭntĭ́thēmĭ)
  11. Ancient Greekσύνθεσις (súnthesis)
  12. Latinsynthesis
  13. Englishsynthesis
  14. Proto-Indo-European*dwóh₁
  15. Proto-Indo-European*trísinflu.
  16. Proto-Indo-European*dwís
  17. Ancient Greekδιά (diá)
  18. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ- (dĭă-)
  19. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
  20. Proto-Indo-European*stísteh₂ti
  21. Proto-Hellenic*hístāmi
  22. Ancient Greekῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ)
  23. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  24. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  25. Englishdiastase
  26. Englishsynthetase

From synthesis + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 合酶
  • 合酶 (héméi)ligase that synthesizes biological compounds
Finnish syntetaasi
  • syntetaasiligase that synthesizes biological compounds
Italian sintetasi
  • sintetasiligase that synthesizes biological compounds
Polish syntetaza
  • syntetazaligase that synthesizes biological compounds
Portuguese sintetase
  • sintetaseligase that synthesizes biological compounds
Spanish sintetasa
  • sintetasaligase that synthesizes biological compounds
Cite this entry
APA

synthetase. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synthetase

MLA

“synthetase.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synthetase. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “synthetase,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synthetase.

Source: synthetase on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.