Synthesizer
/ˈsɪnθəˌsaɪzər/noun
An electronic instrument that generates and modifies sound, often through oscillators, filters, and other signal-processing systems.
Did you know?The root behind synthesizer also produced Greek terms for a “thesis” and a “theme,” all built around the ancient idea of placing or setting something down.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dheh₁-
“To put, place, or set”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sýnthesis
“A putting together, combination, or composition”
Late Latin
Latin
synthesis
“A composition or putting together”
17th Century
English
synthesis
“The combining of separate elements into a whole”
19th Century
English
synthesize
“To combine into a unified whole”
20th Century
English
synthesizer
“A device that produces and combines electronically generated sounds”