system
- 01 A2 Elementary
a set of things or parts that work together as a single unit.
a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, in which each part contributes to the overall function.
Simple“The heating system in the building is old and needs to be replaced.”
In context“The engineers spent months designing a cooling system that could handle the extreme heat generated by the new server farm.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a specific way or method of doing something, often with a clear plan.
a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method.
Simple“She has a great system for filing her taxes so she never loses a receipt.”
In context“The library implemented a new classification system to help students locate academic journals more efficiently.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
a group of organs in the body that work together to do a job.
a group of body organs or structures that together perform one or more vital functions.
Simple“Eating healthy food is good for your digestive system.”
In context“The immune system identifies and neutralizes foreign substances to protect the body from infection and disease.”
Synonyms - 04 A2 Elementary
a computer and the software that makes it work.
a computer, including the hardware, operating system, and peripheral equipment, treated as a single entity.
Simple“I need to restart the system because the screen is frozen.”
In context“The administrator updated the operating system across the entire network to patch several critical security vulnerabilities.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
the way a country or society is organized and controlled.
the prevailing political or social order, often viewed as an impersonal or oppressive force.
Simple“Many young people want to change the political system to make it fairer.”
In context“The activists argued that the current economic system prioritizes short-term profit over long-term environmental sustainability.”
Synonyms - 06 B1 Intermediate
a group of planets or stars that move together in space.
a group of celestial objects connected by their mutual gravitational attraction.
Simple“Earth is just one of the planets in our solar system.”
In context“Astronomers are searching for habitable planets in distant star systems that resemble our own.”
Synonyms
Usage systems often · system after new · system began
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.