synthesizes

Synthesizes is the third-person singular present tense of the verb synthesize. It denotes the act of combining two or more components, ideas, or data into a coherent whole, or the production of a substance or product by a chemical or biological reaction. In scientific and academic writing, authors may say a compound is synthesized or that a body of evidence synthesizes findings from multiple studies.

Etymology and forms: synthesize comes from Greek sunthēsis, meaning “placing together.” Related forms include synthesize (base verb), synthesis (noun), synthesized (past tense), and synthesizing (present participle). American English typically uses “synthesizes,” while British English often uses “synthesises.”

Context and usage:

- Chemistry and materials science: synthesis refers to chemical reactions that build complex molecules from simpler precursors; a synthetic polymer or pharmaceutical is produced by laboratory synthesis.

- Biology: cells synthesize macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids; protein synthesis specifically refers to translating genetic information into polypeptides.

- Data and information: synthesis involves merging results from diverse sources to form a unified conclusion or theory; meta-analyses and literature reviews often synthesize evidence.

- Music and audio technology: synthesizers generate sounds by synthetic processes, and a device may synthesize timbres by combining waveforms.

Notes: as a verb, synthesize is often followed by direct objects like “a compound,” “data from sources,” or “a theory.” It is distinct from analyze (break down) and from separate (divide) in meaning, though the terms can be complementary in integrated workflows.