system
The term is highly versatile, spanning from the biological to the digital and the bureaucratic. When used in a biological sense, it refers to an interdependent network of organs, whereas in a social sense, it refers to the invisible structures of power and law that govern behavior. In modern parlance, the word often carries a connotation of rigidity or impersonality. To be a victim of the system suggests that the organized method has become an obstacle rather than a tool, highlighting the paradox where a system designed for efficiency becomes a source of systemic failure.
💬Casual Conversation
I can't believe my computer is lagging again.
Is it a hardware issue or a system failure?
Meanings
A set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole.
"The solar system consists of the sun and the planets that orbit it."
A set of principles or procedures according to which something is done.
"The company has a very efficient system for processing orders."
Examples
The planetary system revolves around a central star.
The school uses a strict system for grading students.
The immune system protects the body from harmful bacteria.
The technician is repairing the computer system in the office.
Collocations & Compounds
operating system
the software that manages computer hardware
The new operating system is much faster than the previous version.
system failure
a complete breakdown of a functioning process
A critical system failure led to the grounding of all flights.
immune system
the biological structure that protects the body from infection
Eating healthy foods helps strengthen your immune system.
metric system
a decimal-based system of measurement
Most countries have adopted the metric system for scientific research.
systematic approach
a methodical way of doing something
We need a systematic approach to solve this complex problem.
Phrasal Verbs
systemize out
to remove a specific element from a process through systematic reorganization
The engineers tried to systemize out the redundancies in the production line.
Idioms & Sayings
beat the system
to find a way to avoid the rules of an organization
He tried to beat the system by using a loophole in the tax code.
Cultural Context
The concept of a system evolved from simple mechanical descriptions to the complex field of cybernetics in the mid-20th century. Norbert Wiener, the father of cybernetics, reimagined the system not just as a collection of parts, but as a loop of communication and control. This shift fundamentally changed how we view everything from biological organisms to global economies.<br><br>In the digital age, the term system has taken on a mystical quality, often referenced in the "ghost in the machine" trope. This describes the emergent properties of a complex system—where the whole becomes something more than the sum of its parts. Whether it is the intricate neural system of the human brain or the sprawling architecture of the internet, we are constantly interacting with systems that possess a logic of their own. The fascination lies in the tension between the rigid rules of a system and the unpredictable, chaotic nature of the reality those rules attempt to organize.