# synth

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/synth
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. musical instrument

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short name for a synthesizer, which is an electronic keyboard that can make many different sounds.

For teachers: a clipped form of synthesizer; an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals.

- The band uses a vintage synth to get that classic 80s pop sound.
- The producer spent hours tweaking the oscillators on his modular synth to achieve the perfect bass tone for the track.

### 2. artificial person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

an artificial human or robot, often found in science fiction movies and games.

For teachers: a synthetic humanoid or android; common in science fiction contexts to distinguish biological humans from manufactured ones.

- In the game, you have to decide if the synths deserve the same rights as humans.
- The narrative explores the ethical implications of creating synths that possess consciousness indistinguishable from that of their biological creators.

### 3. to create or play electronic sound

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Technical

to create sounds using an electronic instrument or to play a synthesizer.

For teachers: to produce or perform music using a synthesizer; occasionally used as a clipped form of 'synthesize'.

- He likes to synth his own drum beats instead of using samples.
- The artist preferred to synth every texture from scratch rather than relying on preset library sounds.

### 4. artificial or man-made

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a short way of saying 'synthetic', meaning something made by people rather than nature.

For teachers: an abbreviated form of synthetic; referring to substances or materials produced by chemical synthesis.

- The jacket is made from a new synth fabric that keeps you very warm.
- The lab report confirmed that the sample was a synth compound rather than a naturally occurring mineral.

## Examples

- He played a catchy melody on his vintage synth.
- The band's new album features a heavy synth sound that reminds fans of 1980s pop music.
- While digital plugins are convenient, many producers still prefer the warm, unpredictable textures of an analog synth for their bass lines.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.