1. anatomy growing together of bones or parts: the natural merging of two or more separate bones or parts of the body
2. anatomy joint with little movement: a joint in which the bones are connected by tough cartilage fibrocartilage and there is very little movement between them, e.g. between adjacent vertebrae in the spinal column
3. medicine bone condition: a condition in which two or more separate bones or parts of the body have merged
4. botany fusion of plant parts: a fusion of two similar organs or parts of a plant
5. anatomy botany line marking symphysis: a point or line where a symphysis occurs
[Late 16th century. Via modern Latin< Greek sumphusis "growing together" < phusis "growth"]
