1 [count] : a group of related parts that move or work together
▪ a system of rivers ▪ railroad systems ▪ a security/telephone/heating system ▪ an alarm system ▪ a stereo/computer system — see also ecosystem, pa system, public address system, solar system, sound system 2 [count] a : a body of a person or animal thought of as an entire group of parts that work together — usually singular ▪ The disease affected her entire system. ▪ Greasy foods are not good for your system. ▪ No drugs were found in his system.
b : a group of organs that work together to perform an important function of the body
▪ the digestive/reproductive/respiratory system — see also central nervous system, immune system, nervous system 3 [count] : a way of managing, controlling, organizing, or doing something that follows a set of rules or a plan
▪ the legal system ▪ The players like the coach's system. ▪ Under the new system, students will have to pass an exam to graduate. ▪ She devised a new filing system. ▪ We need a better system for handling incoming e-mail. — often + of ▪ the state's system of education ▪ a democratic system of government ▪ Every religion has its own system of beliefs and practices. — see also honor system, metric system, operating system 4 the system disapproving : a powerful government or social organization that controls people's lives
▪ You can't beat the system. ▪ We spent our youth rebelling against the system.