What does "cyma" mean?
The wavelike, curved shape of a cymatium, consisting of a concave and a convex line; (loosely) the cymatium itself.
Cyma
/ˈsaɪ.mə/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The wavelike, curved shape of a cymatium, consisting of a concave and a convex line; (loosely) the cymatium itself.
- Grammar: cyma is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cymatium, frieze, topping.
- Usage evidence: […] while the double-cyma or classical curve of his mouth was not without a looseness in its close.
How to use "cyma"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cyma" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cyma" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cyma" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cyma" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cyma" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cymatium" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cyma", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The wavelike, curved shape of a cymatium, consisting of a concave and a convex line; (loosely) the cymatium itself.
"[…] while the double-cyma or classical curve of his mouth was not without a looseness in its close."
- 2 (architecture) a molding for a cornice; in profile it is shaped like an S (partly concave and partly convex) wordnet
- 3 A cyme (opening bud).
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"[…] while the double-cyma or classical curve of his mouth was not without a looseness in its close."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cyma"?
Common synonyms include: cymatium, frieze, topping.
How do you use "cyma" in a sentence?
[…] while the double-cyma or classical curve of his mouth was not without a looseness in its close.
How do you pronounce "cyma"?
Pronounced /ˈsaɪ.mə/.
Etymology
From New Latin cȳma (“young sprout or shoot of cabbage”) (whence the botanic usage of cyme), from Ancient Greek κῦμα (kûma, “swell, wave”, “cyma”, “sprout of a plant”), from κύω (kúō, “I conceive, I become pregnant”). For more information, click to expand this box. Most English coinages on this root are formed on its short stem, κῡμ- (kūm-). The fact that the Ancient Greek etymon only inflects as a third-declension neuter noun has led some writers to prescribe forms that preserve the root’s long stem, κῡματ- (kūmat-), for philological reasons (see, for example, the 1903 and 1908 citations of cymatoscope), but such forms are rare. Latinate phrases that include cyma, namely cyma inversa, cyma recta, and cyma reversa, show that, when employed as a Latin word, cȳma is treated as a first-declension feminine noun rather than as third-declension neuter consonant-stem noun. There are several Classical precedents, both from Latin and from Ancient Greek, for formations on the short stem (κῡμ- (kūm-)) of this root, although formations on the long stem (κῡματ- (kūmat-)) are more common in Ancient Greek; consequently, whereas formations on the long stem may be preferable, especially when combined with other Ancient Greek elements, formations on the short stem are by no means incorrect.