Dictionary

system en · NOUN

Pronunciation

(General-American) audio
/ˈsɪstəm/
(Australia) audio
(General-American) audio
sĭsʹtəm

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱómder.? Proto-Indo-European *sem-der.? Proto-Hellenic *ksún Ancient Greek σύν (sún) Ancient Greek συν- (sun-) Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi Ancient Greek ἵστημι (hístēmi) Ancient Greek σῠνῐ́στημῐ (sŭnĭ́stēmĭ) Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Hellenic *-mə Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă) Ancient Greek σύστημα (sústēma)bor. Late Latin systēma Middle French systemebor. English system Partly borrowed from Middle French sisteme, systeme, partly directly from its etymon Late Latin systēma (“harmony; musical scale; set of celestial objects; set of troops; system”), from Ancient Greek σύστημα (sústēma, “musical scale; organized body; whole made of several parts or members”), from σῠνίστημῐ (sŭnístēmĭ, “to combine, organize”) + -μᾰ (-mă, resultative suffix). σῠνίστημῐ is from σῠν- (sŭn-, “with, together”) + ἵστημι (hístēmi, “to stand”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”). Cognate with Dutch systeem, modern French système, German System, Italian sistema, Portuguese sistema, Spanish sistema. Doublet of systema.

Meanings

(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole.
- Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads. 2013 May–June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease: The Great Morbidity of the 21st Century”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, archived from the original on 24 Apr 2013, page 200:
- Every age has its characteristic, and our present one is not behind its predecessors in that respect; it is the age of systems, every system enforced by a treatise. The politician who opposes the corn-laws and advocates free trade, does so on a system, which, as soon as it begins to work, will set the civilized world to rights. 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter IX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 112:
- The bass and treble clefs combined, include all the sounds belonging to our musical system, as they appear on a 6½-octave pianoforte, extending from C C C in the bass to F in altissimo. [1848], J[ames] A[lexander] Hamilton, “Stave”, in A New Musical Grammar, in Three Parts: viz. Notation; Harmony and Counterpoint; Rhythm or Melody, 4th edition, London: Published only by Robert Cocks and Co. […]; sold also by Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. […], →OCLC, part I (Notation), page 23:
(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A set of hardware and software operating in a computer.
- WIPO [the World Intellectual Property Organization] reported that China had 17 of the top 20 academic organizations filing for AI-related patents. It noted China was especially strong in the fast-growing area of "deep learning." This is a machine learning method that includes speech and facial recognition systems. 2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America, archived from the original on 07 Feb 2019:
(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A set of equations involving the same variables, which are to be solved simultaneously.
- The method of solving systems of equations by matrices that we will look at is based on procedures involving equations that we are familiar with from previous mathematics courses. The main idea is to reduce a given system of equations to another simpler system that has the same solutions. 2017, Ken Levasseur, Al Doerr, “More Matrix Algebra”, in Applied Discrete Structures – Part 2: Algebraic Structures: Version 3.3, [Morrisville, N.C.]: Lulu.com, →ISBN, section 12.1.1 (Solutions), page 59:
(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A set of staves linked by a brace that indicate instruments or sounds that are to be played simultaneously.
- To notate music that is played on a piano or is played by different musicians on various instruments, one often uses several staves to notate the various musical voices. A single vertical line drawn to the left of multiple staves creates a staff system, which indicates that the music on all staves is to be played simultaneously. A bracket is an additional vertically aligned symbol joining staves. This symbol shows groupings of instruments that function as a unit, such as the string section of an orchestra[…]. 2015, Meinhard Müller, “Music Representations”, in Fundamentals of Music Processing: Audio, Analysis, Algorithms, Applications, Cham, Switzerland; Heidelberg: Springer International Publishing, →DOI, →ISBN, section 1.1.2 (Western Music Notation), page 8:
(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A set of body organs having a particular function.
- the digestive system the nervous system
- Animals have evolved a variety of digestive systems to utilise fibre. The kangaroos have evolved a digestive system that has much in common with those found in ruminant mammals from other continents, but there are also unique features. 1995, Terence J. Dawson, “Living in the Environment – Feeding”, in Kangaroos: Biology of the Largest Marsupials, Ithaca, N.Y.: Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, published 1998, →ISBN, page 102:
(countable, qualifier:multiplicity, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A set of alters of a person, or the multiple (“an individual with multiple personalities”) who contains them.
- But that alter often turns out to be relatively recent and fairly peripheral in the multiple's total system of alters. 1995, Stephen E. Braude, First Person Plural: Multiple Personality and the Philosophy of Mind, revised edition, Lanham, Md.; London: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, →ISBN, page 56:
- Rosie's courage allowed her to engage with me quickly and soon provided reassurance to others in the system that I was safe and non-abusive. Soon after, a number of other alters made themselves known to me. […] I was initially very worried that I would offend the system by missing when switches occurred, or even misidentify who was present with me. 2017, “A New Therapist”, in Patricia Frankish, Valerie Sinason, editors, Holistic Therapy for People with Dissociative Identity Disorder, London: Karnac Books, →ISBN, page 79:
(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A system in which two or more objects are bound to each other by gravity.
- Yukawa is a small rock planet with a thin atmosphere of carbon dioxide. After a labor dispute with companies shipping metallic asteroids to the nearby Arcturus system, Yukawa's iron core and blanket of hematite were briefly mined to aid in the construction of Arcturus Station. 2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Yukawa, Euler system:
- There are eight planets in the solar system.
(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A comprehensive and logically organized set of propositions or philosophical beliefs.
- In the footnote attached to this statement Rosen refers to the “hypnotic” quality of Kojève’s system. 2019, David McIlwain, Michael Oakeshott and Leo Strauss: The Politics of Renaissance and Enlightenment, →ISBN, page 131, note 5:
(capitalized, countable, derogatory, often, qualifier:preceded by the, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ The mainstream culture, controlled by the elites or government of a state, or a combination of them, seen as oppressive to the individual.
- Meronyms: the man, yes men, elephant in the room, emperor's new clothes, Leviathan, Big Brother
- Some had already been incarcerated for several months awaiting trial, and some were being returned to their cells at Long Bay to wait several months longer ere they would have an` opportunity of disproving the allegations against them. Such mockery of justice is allowed by the all-powerful "system". 1919, Vance Marshall, Jail From Within, page 20:
- Don't want to grow old too fast / Don't want to let the system get me down / I've got to find a way to make the good times last / And if you'll show me how, I'm ready now 1986, Madonna, Stephen Bray, Patrick Leonard, “Where's the Party”, in True Blue, performed by Madonna:
- “Overwork started his illness, kept it alight, and killed him, poor devil. Write him off to the System - one man to do the work of two-and-a-half men.” 1888, Rudyard Kipling, “The Phantom Rickshaw”, in The Phantom 'Rickshaw and Other Tales, Allahabad: A.H. Wheeler and Co., page 8:
(countable, qualifier:roleplaying games, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A set of rules for a tabletop roleplaying game.
(countable, uncountable) A group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole. ▸ A socioeconomic formation.
- The capitalist system
(countable, uncountable) A method or way of organizing or planning.
- As we passed along, the party of Too-wit (the whole hundred and ten savages of the canoes) was momentarily strengthened by smaller detachments, of from two to six or seven, which joined us, as if by accident, at different turns in the road. There appeared so much of system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I spoke to Captain Guy of my apprehensions. 1838, [Edgar Allan Poe], The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:
- But ſo Matters fell out, and ſo I muſt relate them; and if any Reader is ſhocked at their appearing unnatural, I cannot help it. I must remind ſuch Persons, that I am not writing a Syſtem, but a Hiſtory, and I am not obliged to reconcile every Matter to the received Notions concerning Truth and Nature. 1749, Henry Fielding, “In which Fortune Seems to have been in a Better Humour with Jones than We have hitherto Seen Her”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume IV, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VIII, page 253:
- As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could. 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC, pages 13–14:
- Followers should have a system to follow that works in their interests, not against them.
- He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record. With this biological framework in place, [Peter] Corning endeavors to show that the capitalist system as currently practiced in the United States and elsewhere is manifestly unfair. 2012 March–April, John T[homas] Jost, “Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)?”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 21 Jun 2017, page 162:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
systems	Number=Plur		lexicographic

Translations (198)

de Akkolade ((music) set of staves indicating instruments or sounds to be played simultaneously) · sw mfumo (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · haw ʻōnaehana (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · tl kaayusan (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · as তন্ত্ৰ ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · as পদ্ধতি (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · mi pūnaha (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · yue 體系 /体系 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fa-ira دَسْتْگاه ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · sk sústava (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fi systeemi (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ka სისტემა (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · gl sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hi सारणी (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · co sistemu (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ky система (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · yi סיסטעם (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ko 제도 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · et menetlus (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hu szervrendszer ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · th ระบบ (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · frr süsteem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · af stelsel (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fr système ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · gd siostam (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · bn পদ্ধতি (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · arz نظام (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · kk жүйе ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · ja 系統 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · az sistem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · my စနစ် (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hu rendszer (mainstream culture) · sh су́став (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hu rendszer ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · bn সিস্টেম (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · tr sistem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · nb system (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · bg систе́ма (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fa-ira مَنْظومِه (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hi क्रम (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · kk жүйе ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · cmn 系統 /系统 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ko 계통 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ja 器系 ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · hi रीति (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · cs systém (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · mba pamaagi (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fr système (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · nl stelsel ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · pt sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · tg систем (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ja 体系 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · pt sistema (method or way of organizing) · fi elimistö ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · nl systeem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sh сѝсте̄м (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · cy system (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · te వ్యవస్థ (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · es sistema ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · as ছিষ্টেম ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · id sistem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · tk sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · pt sistema ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · pl system (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sv system (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hi प्रणाली (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · as পদ্ধতি (method or way of organizing) · ga córas (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ug سىستېما (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · af sisteem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · haw ʻōnaehana ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · ru систе́ма ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · tr düzen (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · co sistemu (method or way of organizing) · vo sitot (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · de System (method or way of organizing) · ru систе́ма ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · cmn 系統 /系统 ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · cmn 方程組 /方程组 ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · bg систе́ма ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · sd سِرِشتو (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · cmn 制度 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · pt sistema ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · sh sìstēm (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · bg организа́ция (method or way of organizing) · hi सिस्टम (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ms sistem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · uz sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · la systēma (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · es sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fi viivastoryhmä ((music) set of staves indicating instruments or sounds to be played simultaneously) · kmr koendam ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · yue 系統 /系统 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · is kerfi (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · mn журам (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fa-ira سیسْتِم (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · da system (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · scn sistema (method or way of organizing) · fa-ira نِظام (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · lv sistēma (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · vi hệ thống (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · mt sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hi तरीक़ा (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · et süsteem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · as ৰীতি (mainstream culture) · my နည်း (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fy systeem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · pl układ ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · om sirna (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ms sistem ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · as ব্যৱস্থাপ্ৰণালী ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · sq sistem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ast sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ru систе́ма (method or way of organizing) · ky тутум (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fa-ira سامانِه (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · km ប្រព័ន្ធ (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · eo komplekso (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ca sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · pt sistema (mainstream culture) · nn system (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ru систе́ма ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · fi järjestelmä (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · uk систе́ма (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ia systema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hi तंत्र (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · lo ລະບົບ (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fi systeemi (mainstream culture) · fi järjestelmä ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · ceb pamaagi (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fi järjestelmä (method or way of organizing) · fi yhtälöryhmä ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · ota چیغیر (method or way of organizing) · swg Sischdem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · an sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · it sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · scn sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · frr Süsteem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sa क्रम (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ja 制度 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fy stelsel (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · as ব্যৱস্থা (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ko 체계 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sh sústav (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sl sistem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · tr usul (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ur نِظام (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · el σύστημα (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · eo sistemo (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sk systém (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · tl sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · cmn 譜表組 /谱表组 ((music) set of staves indicating instruments or sounds to be played simultaneously) · mk систем (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · tg низом (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sco seestem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · bg поря́дък (method or way of organizing) · as ছিষ্টেম (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · nl stelsel (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · arz سيستم (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · io sistemo (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ja 系 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ro sistem (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · de Ordnung (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fi yhteiskunta (mainstream culture) · oc sistèma (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · de System (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · as সূত্ৰাৱলী ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · hy համակարգ (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · he שִׁיטָה (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · grc σύστημα (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ru систе́ма (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · ar جِهَاز (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · be сістэ́ма (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · kk жүйе (method or way of organizing) · ar نِظَام (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · fa-ira دَسْتْگاه ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · bn রীতি (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · cmn 體系 /体系 (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · uz tizim (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · kk жүйе (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · lt sistema (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · sa व्यवस्थ (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · be сыстэ́ма (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hu rendszer (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · de System ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · hu rendszer (method or way of organizing) · frr süstääm (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hi कार्यप्रणाली (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · hu egyenletrendszer ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · gl sistema ((mathematics) set of equations to be solved simultaneously) · it sistema ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · de Verbund (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · pl układ (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · cmn 系統 /系统 ((computing) set of hardware and software operating in a computer) · haw ʻōnaehana ((physiology) set of body organs having a particular function) · an sistema (method or way of organizing) · hu szisztéma (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole) · cs soustava (group or set of related things that operate together as a complex whole)

system en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Deriveds

Descendants

Hyponyms

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (198)