Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause two or more things to occur, operate, or exist at the same time or rate: To make events, actions, or processes happen together in a coordinated manner.
   • To adjust timepieces to show the same time: To set clocks or watches to indicate identical time.
   • To align events in a sequence so they appear to coincide: To arrange or represent separate events as occurring simultaneously.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To occur or operate at the same time or rate: To happen or function simultaneously.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (transitive):

  • The director needed to synchronise the sound effects with the actors' movements on screen.
  • Before the mission, the team leaders synchronised their watches.
  • The software helps synchronise the data across all your devices.

• Verb (intransitive):

  • The traffic lights on this avenue are programmed to synchronise, allowing for a smooth flow of cars.
  • Our schedules finally synchronised, so we could meet for lunch.

Advanced Usage

• "to synchronise with": To coordinate or align oneself or one's actions with something else.
  • The dancer had to synchronise her movements perfectly with the music.
• In computing: Refers to the process of ensuring files or data are identical across multiple systems or devices.
  • The cloud service automatically synchronises my documents between my laptop and phone.

Variants and Related Words

• Synchronisation (noun): The process or result of making things synchronous.
  • The synchronisation of the engines was critical for the flight.
• Synchronous (adjective): Happening or existing at the same time.
  • The students attended a synchronous online lecture.
• Synchroniser (noun): A device or person that causes synchronisation.
  • The film editor acted as the synchroniser for the audio and video tracks.

Synonyms

• Coordinate: To organize different elements to work together effectively.
• Align: To place or arrange things in a line or in correct relative positions.
• Harmonise: To bring into consonance or accord.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Synchronise" is not commonly used with particles to form distinct phrasal verbs. The concept is typically expressed with prepositions like "with" or "to.")

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms that use the exact word "synchronise." The concept is usually expressed literally.)

Verb

1. make synchronous and adjust in time or manner
   • Let's synchronize our efforts
2. cause to indicate the same time or rate
   • synchronize your watches
3. operate simultaneously
   • The clocks synchronize
4. arrange or represent events so that they co-occur
   • synchronize biblical events
5. make (motion picture sound) exactly simultaneous with the action
   • synchronize this film
6. happen at the same time