English-Thai Dictionary

Polynesia

N หมู่เกาะ ใน มหาสมุทร แปซิฟิก ได้แก่  ฮาวาย  ซา มัวร์  และ หมู่เกาะคุก  mu-kor-nai-ma-ha-sa-mud-pea-si-fik

 

poly-

PRF มาก  mak

 

polyandric

A เกี่ยวกับ การ ที่ หญิง มี หลาย สามี 

 

polyandrous

ADJ เกี่ยวกับ การ มี หลาย สามี  bigamous digamous kiao-kab-kan-me-sa-me-lai-sa-me

 

polyandry

N การ มี สามี หลาย คน  การ มี สามี มากกว่า หนึ่ง คน  polygamy kan-me-sa-me-lai-kon

 

polyanthus

N พืช ไม้ดอก หลาย ช่อง จำพวก  Primula polyantha

 

polyarchy

N การเมือง หลาย อำนาจ 

 

polyatomic

A เกี่ยวกับ โมเลกุล ที่ มี หลาย อะตอม 

 

polybasic

A มี สอง อะตอม ไฮโดรเจน หรือ มากกว่า สอง อะตอม ที่ แทนที่ ได้ 

 

polybasite

N แร่ เงินช นิดหนึ่ง 

 

polychromatic

A หลาย สี 

 

polychrome

ADJ หลาย สี  ประดับ ด้วย หลาย สี  multicolor varicolored solid-colored lai-se

 

polychrome

N สิ่ง ที่ มี หลาย สี  siang-ti-me-lai-se

 

polychromy

N ศิลปะ การ ใช้ สี หลาย สี ใน การ ทา หรือ ตกแต่ง 

 

polyclinic

N คลินิก รักษา หลาย โรค  โรงพยาบาล  โพ ลีค ลี นิค  clinic policlinic ki-nik-lak-sa-lai-rok

 

polyconic

A หลาย กรวย 

 

polycotyledon

N พืช ที่ มี ใบ แรก ของ เมล็ด มากกว่า  2 ใบ 

 

polydipsia

N ภาวะ กระหายน้ำ มากกว่า ปกติ 

 

polyester

N สาร โพลีเมอ ร์ ที่ ใช้ ผลิต เรซิน  พลาสติก และ ใยสังเคราะห์  สาร โพลี เอส เตอ ร์  san-po-le-mor-ti-chai-pa-lid-lea-sin

 

polyethylene

N พลาสติก สังเคราะห์ ใช้ ใน ศัลยกรรม ตกแต่ง  อุปกรณ์ไฟฟ้า  พลาสติก  pas-sa-tik-sang-kro-ti-chai-nai-kan-san-ya-kam

 

polygala

N พืช จำพวก  Milkworts

 

polygamous

ADJ เกี่ยวกับ การ มี สามี หรือ ภรรยา หลาย คน ในขณะเดียวกัน  kiao-kab-kan-me-sa-me-pan-ra-ya-lai-kon-nai-we-la-diao-kan

 

polygamy

N การ มี สามี หรือ ภรรยา หลาย คน ในขณะเดียวกัน  polyandry polygyny plural marriage kan-me-sa-me-pan-ra-ya-lai-kon-nai-we-la-diao-kan

 

polyglot

ADJ ซึ่ง รู้ หลาย ภาษา  multilingual polyglottic sueng-ru-lai-pa-sa

 

polyglot

N ผู้รู้ หลาย ภาษา  phu-ru-lai-pa-sa

 

polyglot

N ภาษา หลาย ภาษา  pa-sa-lai0pa-sa

 

polygon

N รูปหลายเหลี่ยม  รูป หลาย มุม  rub-lai-liam

 

polygonaceous

A เกี่ยวกับ พืช ตระกูล  Buckwheat

 

polygonum

N พืช จำพวก หนึ่ง ที่ ได้แก่  Knotgrasses เป็นต้น 

 

polygraph

N อุปกรณ์ ทำสำเนา ภาพ  detector u-pa-kon-tam-sam-nao-pab

 

polygynous

A เกี่ยวกับ การ มี เมีย หลาย คน ในเวลาเดียวกัน 

 

polygyny

N การ มี ภรรยา หลาย คน ในขณะเดียวกัน  polygamy polyandry kan-me-pan-la-ya-lai-kon-nai-ka-na-diao-kan

 

polygyny

N การสมสู่ กับ สัตว์ เพศตรงข้าม หลาย ตัว ใน ช่วงชีวิต หนึ่ง  polygamy polyandry kan-som-su-kab-sad-ped-trong-kam

 

polyhedral

ADJ ซึ่ง มี หลาย ด้าน  ซึ่ง มี หลาย หน้า  many-sided sueng-me-lai-dan

 

polyhedric

N คลินิก รักษาโรค ทั่วไป  polyhydroxy ki-nik-rak-sa-lok-tua-pai

 

polyhedron

N รูปทรง ที่ มี หลาย ด้าน  รูปทรง หลาย หน้า  รูปทรง หลาย เหลี่ยม  polyhedra rub-song-ti-me-lai-dan

 

polyhymnia

N เทพธิดา แห่ง ดนตรี และ การเต้นรำ 

 

polymer

N สาร โพลีเมอ ร์  san-po-le-mor

 

polymeric

ADJ เกี่ยวกับ สาร โพลีเมอ ร์  kiao-kab-san-po-le-mor

 

polymerism

N ภาวะ ที่ มี มากกว่า สอง ส่วน ปกติ 

 

polymerization

N กระบวน การเปลี่ยนแปลง เป็น สาร โพลีเมอ ร์  kra-buan-kan-pian-plang-san-po-le-mor

 

polymerize

VT ทำให้เกิด กระบวนการ  Polymerization

 

polymnia

N เทพธิดา แห่ง ดนตรี การเต้นรำ  Polymia

 

polymorph

N เม็ด เลือด ขาว ที่ มี นิวเคลียส หลาย รูปแบบ หรือ หลาย พู 

 

polymorphism

N ภาวะ ที่ มี หลาย รูปแบบ  การ มี หลาย รูปแบบ  pa-wa-ti-me-lai-rub-beab

 

polymorphous

ADJ ซึ่ง มี หลาย รูปแบบ  polymorphic sueng-me-lai-rub-beab

 

polynesian

A เกี่ยวกับ  Polynesia

 

polynomial

ADJ ซึ่ง มี หลาย ชื่อ  sueng-me-lai-chue

 

polynomial

N ชื่อ ที่ ประกอบด้วย หลาย คำ  chue-ti-pra-kob-duai-lai-kam

 

polynuclear

A หลาย นิวเคลียส 

 

polyp

N ติ่ง เนื้อ  ติ่ง ยื่น ออกมา  ting-nuan

 

polyp

N หิน ปะการัง  hin-pa-ka-rang

 

polypary

N โครงสร้าง แบบ หิน ปะการัง 

 

polypetalous

A มี หลาย กลีบ 

 

polyphase

A มี หลาย ระยะ  มี หลาย วัต ภาค 

 

polyphemus

N ยักษ์ ตาเดียว ที่ ถูก  Odysseus ทำ ตาบอด 

 

polyphone

N สัญลักษณ์ ที่ มี หลาย เสียง 

 

polyphonic

ADJ มี หลาย เสียง  เกี่ยวกับ การ ประสานเสียง  me-lai-siang

 

polyphony

N การ มี หลาย เสียง  kan-me-lai-siang

 

polypus

N สัตว์ จำพวก หิน ปะการัง  ติ่ง เนื้องอก  polyp

 

polysepalous

A มี หลาย  sepal

 

polysyllabic

ADJ หลาย พยางค์  เกี่ยวกับ คำ ที่ มี หลาย พยางค์  sesquipedalian lengthy short lai-pa-yang

 

polysyllable

N คำ หลาย พยางค์  kam-lai-pa-yang

 

polysyndeton

N การ มี สันธาน หลาย คำ 

 

polysynthetic

A ซึ่ง มี คำ หลาย คำ ที่ ค่อนข้าง ยาว ใน การผูก ประ โยต และ ความหมาย 

 

polytechnic

ADJ เกี่ยวกับ การ สอน ด้านอุตสาหกรรม และ วิทยาศาสตร์ เทคโนโลยี  applied technical technological kiao-kab-kan-son-dan-u-sa-ha-kam

 

polytechnic

N โรงเรียน เกี่ยวกับ อุตสาหกรรม และ วิทยาศาสตร์ เทคโนโลยี  โปลี เทคนิค  โรงเรียน โปลี เทคนิค  rong-rian-kiao-kab-u-sa-ha-kam

 

polytheism

N ลัทธิ หลาย พระเจ้า  การ เชื่อ ใน หลาย พระเจ้า  paganism pantheism henotheism lak-ti-lai-pare-jao

 

polyuria

N การ มี ปัสสาวะ มาก ผิดปกติ 

 

polyvalent

A มีอำนาจ รวมตัว กับ ไฮโดรเจน อะตอม  3 อะตอม ขึ้นไป 

 

polyzoan

N สัตว์ ทะเล สัตว์น้ำ จีด ที่ มี กิ่งก้าน ทำการ แพร่พันธุ์ โดย การ แตกหน่อ  bryozoan

 

polyzoarium

N โครงกระดูก ของ สัตว์ ประเภท  Bryozoa

 

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

POLY, POLEY

n.[L. polium; Gr. white. ] A plant. The poley grass is of the genus Lythrum.

 

POLY

in compound words, is from the Greek, and signifies many; as in polygon, a figure of many angles.

 

POLYACOUSTIC

a.[Gr. many, and to hear. ] That multiples or magnifies sound; as a noun, an instrument to multiply sounds.

 

POLYADELPH

n.[Gr. many, and brother. ] 1. In botany, a plant having its stamens united in three or more bodies or bundles by the filaments.

 

POLYADELPHIAN

a.Having its stamens united in three or more bundles.

 

POLYANDER

n.[Gr. many, and a male. ] In botany, a plant having many stamens, or any number above twenty, inserted in the receptacle.

 

POLYANDRIAN

a.Having many stamens, that is, any number above twenty, inserted in the receptacle.

 

POLYANDRY

n.[supra. ] The practice of females' having more husbands than one at the same time; plurality of husbands.

 

POLYANTH, POLYANTHOS

n.[Gr. many, and a flower. ] A plant of the genus Primula or primrose, whose flower stalks produce flowers in clusters.

 

POLYAUTOGRAPHY

n.[Gr. many, he himself, and to write. ] The act or practice of multiplying copies of one's own handwriting or of manuscripts, by engraving on stone; a species of lithography.

 

POLYCHORD

a.[Gr. many and chord. ] Having many chords or strings.

 

POLYCHREST

n.[Gr. many, and useful. ] In pharmacy, a medicine that serves for many uses, or that cures many diseases.

 

POLYCHROITE

n.[Gr. many, and to color. ] The coloring matter of saffron.

 

POLYCOTYLEDON

n.[Gr. many, and a cavity. ] In botany, a plant that has many or more than two cotyledons or lobes to the seed.

 

POLYCOTYLEDONOUS

a.Having more than two lobes to the seed.

 

POLYEDRIC, POLYEDROUS

[See Polyhedron and Polyhedral. ]

 

POLYGAM, POLYGAMIAN

n.[Gr. many, and marriage. ] In botany, a plant which bears hermaphrodite flowers, with male or female flowers, or both, not inclosed in the same common calyx, but scattered either on the same plant, or on two or three distinct individuals.

 

POLYGAMIAN

a.Producing hermaphrodite flowers, with male or female flowers, or both.

 

POLYGAMIST

n.[See Polygamy. ] A person who maintains the lawfulness of polygamy.

 

POLYGAMOUS

a.Consisting of polygamy. 1. Inclined to polygamy; having a plurality of wives.

 

POLYGAMY

n.[Gr. many, and marriage. ] A plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; or the having of such plurality. When a man has more wives than one, or a woman more husbands than one, at the same time, the offender is punishable for polygamy. Such is the fact in christian countries. But polygamy is allowed in some countries, as in Turkey.

 

POLYGAR

n.In Hindoostan, an inhabitant of the woods.

 

POLYGENOUS

a.[Gr. many, and kind. ] Consisting of many kinds; as a polygenous mountain, which is composed of strata of different species of stone.

 

POLYGLOT

a.[Gr. many, and tongue. ] Having or containing many languages; as a polyglot lexicon or Bible.

 

POLYGLOT

n.A book containing many languages, particularly the Bible containing the Scriptures in several languages. 1. One who understands many languages. [Not in use. ]

 

POLYGON

n.[Gr. many, and an angle. ] In geometry, a figure of many angles and sides, and whose perimeter consists at least of more than four sides.

 

POLYGONAL, POLYGONOUS

a.Having many angles.

 

POLYGONUM, POLYGON

n.[Gr. many, and knee or knot. ] Knotgrass, a genus of plants so names from the numerous joints in the stem.

 

POLYGRAM

n.[Gr. many, and a writing. ] A figure consisting of many lines.

 

POLYGRAPH

n.[See Polygraphy. ] An instrument for multiplying copies of a writing with ease and expedition.

 

POLYGRAPHIC, POLYGRAPHICAL

a.Pertaining to polygraphy; as a polygraphic instrument. 1. Done with a polygraph; as a polygraphic copy or writing.

 

POLYGRAPHY

n.[Gr. many, and a writing; to write. ] The art of writing in various ciphers, and of deciphering the same.

 

POLYGYN

n.[Gr. many, and a female. ] In botany, a plant having many pistils.

 

POLYGYNIAN

a.Having many pistils.

 

POLYGYNY

n.[Gr. many, and a female. ] The practice of having more wives than one at the same time.

 

POLYHALITE

n.[Gr. many, and salt. ] A mineral or salt occurring in masses of a fibrous structure, of a brick red color, being tinged with iron. It contains sulphates of lime, of magnesia, of potash and of soda.

 

POLYHEDRAL, POLYHEDROUS

a.[See Polyhedron. ] Having many sides; as a solid body.

 

POLYHEDRON

n.[Gr. many, and side. ] 1. In geometry, a body or solid contained under many sides or planes.
2. In optics, a multiplying glass or lens consisting of several plane surfaces disposed in a convex form.

 

POLYLOGY

n.[Gr. many, and discourse. ] A talking much; talkativeness; garrulity. [Not in use. ]

 

POLYMATHIC

a.[See Polymathy. ] Pertaining to polymathy.

 

POLYMATHY

n.[Gr. many, and learning; to learn. ] The knowledge of many arts and sciences; acquaintance with many branches of learning or with various subjects.

 

POLYMNITE

n.[stone of many marshes.] A stone marked with dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as to represent rivers, marshes and ponds.

 

POLYMORPH

n.[Gr. many and form. ] A name given by Soldani to a numerous tribe or series of shells, which are very small, irregular and singular in form, and which cannot be referred to any known genus.

 

POLYMORPHOUS

a.[supra. ] Having many forms.

 

POLYNEME

n.A fish having a scaly compressed head, with a blunt prominent nose, and pliform appendages to the pectoral fins.

 

POLYNESIA

n.s as z. [Gr. many and isle. ] A new term in geography, used to designate a great number of isles in the Pacific ocean, as the Pelew isles, the Ladrones, the Carolinas, the Sandwich isles, the Marquesas, the Society isles and the Friendly isles.

 

POLYNESIAN

a.Pertaining to Polynesia.

 

POLYNOME

n.[Gr. many and name. ] In algebra, a quantity consisting of many terms.

 

POLYNOMIAL

a.Containing many names or terms.

 

POLYONOMOUS

a.[Gr. many and name. ] Having many names or titles; many-titled.

 

POLYONOMY

n.[supra. ] Variety of different names.

 

POLYOPTRUM

n.[Gr. many and to see. ] A glass through which objects appear multiplied.

 

POLYPE, POLYPUS

n.[Gr. many and foot. ] 1. Something that has many feet or roots.
2. In zoology, a species of fresh water insect, belonging to the genus Hydra and order of zoophytes. Of this animal it is remarkable, that if cut into pieces, each part will shoot out a new head and tail and become a distinct animal. The general character of this animal is, it fixes itself by its base, is gelatinous, linear, naked, contractile, and capable of changing place.
The common name of all those small gelatinous animals, whose mouth is surrounded by tentacula or feelers, (whence the name, ) and conducts to a simple stomach, or one followed by intestines in the form of vessels. They constitute a distinct class or order of zoophytes, and include those compound animals, with a fixed and solid stem, which were formerly regarded as marine plants.
3. A concretion of blood in the heart and blood vessels.
4. A tumor with a narrow base, somewhat resembling a pear; found in the nose, uterus, etc.

 

POLYPETALOUS

a.[Gr. many and a petal. ] In botany, having many petals; as a polypetalous corol.

 

POLYPHONIC

a.[infra. ] Having or consisting of many voices or sounds.

 

POLYPHONISM, POLYPHONY

n.[Gr. many and sound. ] Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo.

 

POLYPHYLLOUS

a.[Gr. many and leaf. ] In botany, many-leafed; as a polyphyllous calyx or perianth.

 

POLYPIER

n.The name given to the habitations of polypes, or to the common part of those compound animals called polypes.

 

POLYPITE

n.Fossil polype.

 

POLYPODE

n.[Gr. ] An animal having many feet; the milleped or wood-louse.

 

POLYPODY

n.[L. polypodium, from the Greek. See Polype. ] A plant of the genus Polypodium, of the order of Filices or ferns. The fructifications are in roundish points, scattered over the inferior disk of the frons or leaf. There are numerous species, of which the most remarkable is the common male fern.

 

POLYPOUS

a.[from polypus. ] Having the nature of the polypus; having many feet or roots, like the polypus; as a polypous concretion.

 

POLYSCOPE

n.[Gr. many and to view. ] A glass which makes a single object appear as many.

 

POLYSPAST

n.[Gr. many and to draw. ] A machine consisting of many pulleys.

 

POLYSPERM

n.[Gr. many and seed. ] A tree whose fruit contains many seeds.

 

POLYSPERMOUS

a.Containing many seeds; as a polyspermous capsule or berry.

 

POLYSYLLABIC, POLYSYLLABICAL

a.[from polysyllable. ] Pertaining to a polysyllable; consisting of many syllables, or of more than three.

 

POLYSYLLABLE

n.[Gr. many and a syllable. ] A word of many syllables, that is, consisting of more syllables than three, for words of a less number than four are called monosyllables, dissyllables and trisyllables.

 

POLYSYNDETON

n.[Gr. many and connecting. ] A figure of rhetoric by which the copulative is often repeated; as, "we have ships and men and money and stores. "

 

POLYTECHNIC

a.[Gr. many and art. ] Denoting or comprehending many arts; as a polytechnic school.

 

POLYTHEISM

n.[Gr. many and God. ] The doctrine of a plurality of gods or invisible beings superior to man, and having an agency in the government of the world.

 

POLYTHEIST

n.A person who believes in or maintains the doctrine of a plurality of gods.

 

POLYTHEISTIC, POLYTHEISTICAL

a.Pertaining to polytheism; as polytheistic belief or worship. 1. Holding a plurality of gods; as a polytheistic writer.

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

POLY-

Pol "y-. Etym: [See Full, a.]

 

Defn: A combining form or prefix from Gr. poly `s, many; as, polygon, a figure of many angles; polyatomic, having many atoms; polychord, polyconic.

 

POLY

Po "ly, n. Etym: [L. polium, the name of a plant, perhaps Teucrium polium, Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: A whitish woolly plant (Teucrium Polium ) of the order Labiatæ, found throughout the Mediterranean region. The name, with sundry prefixes, is sometimes given to other related species of the same genus. [Spelt also poley. ] Poly mountain. See Poly-mountain, in Vocabulary.

 

POLYACID

Pol `y *ac "id, a. Etym: [Poly- + acid. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: Capable of neutralizing, or of combining with, several molecules of a monobasic acid; having more than one hydrogen atom capable of being replaced by acid radicals; -- said of certain bases; as, calcium hydrate and glycerin are polyacid bases.

 

POLYACOUSTIC

Pol `y *a *cous "tic, a. Etym: [Poly- + acoustic: cf. F. polyacoustique.]

 

Defn: Multiplying or magnifying sound. -- n.

 

Defn: A polyacoustic instrument.

 

POLYACOUSTICS

POLYACOUSTICS Pol `y *a *cous "tics, n.

 

Defn: The art of multiplying or magnifying sounds.

 

POLYACRON

Pol `y *a "cron, n.; pl. Polyacra, E. Polyacrons. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. poly `s many + 'a `kron summit. ] (Geom.)

 

Defn: A solid having many summits or angular points; a polyhedron.

 

POLYACTINIA

Pol `y *ac *tin "i *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Actinia. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: An old name for those Anthozoa which, like the actinias, have numerous simple tentacles.

 

POLYADELPHIA

Pol `y *a *del "phi *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having stamens united in three or more bodies or bundles by the filaments.

 

POLYADELPHIAN; POLYADELPHOUS

POLYADELPHIAN; POLYADELPHOUS Pol `y *a *del "phi *an, Pol `y *a *del "phous, a. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Belonging to the class Polyadelphia; having stamens united in three or more bundles.

 

POLYANDRIA

Pol `y *an "dri *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polyandry. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: A Linnæan class of monoclinous or hermaphrodite plants, having many stamens, or any number above twenty, inserted in the receptacle.

 

POLYANDRIAN

POLYANDRIAN Pol `y *an "dri *an, a. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Polyandrous.

 

POLYANDRIC

Pol `y *an "dric, a. Etym: [Cf. polyandrique.]

 

Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, polyandry; mating with several males. "Polyandric societies." H. Spencer.

 

POLYANDROUS

POLYANDROUS Pol `y *an "drous, a. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Belonging to the class Polyandria; having many stamens, or any number above twenty, inserted in the receptacle.

 

POLYANDRY

Pol `y *an "dry, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polyandrie. ]

 

Defn: The possession by a woman of more than one husband at the same time; -- contrasted with Ant: monandry.

 

Note: In law, this falls under the head of polygamy.

 

POLYANTHUS

Pol `y *an "thus, n.; pl. Polyanthuses. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. [Written also polyanthos.] (Bot. ) (a ) The oxlip. So called because the peduncle bears a many-flowered umbel. See Oxlip. (b ) A bulbous flowering plant of the genus Narcissus (N. Tazetta, or N. polyanthus of some authors ). See Illust. of Narcissus.

 

POLYARCHIST

POLYARCHIST Pol "y *ar `chist, n.

 

Defn: One who advocates polyarchy; -- opposed to monarchist. Cudworth.

 

POLYARCHY

Pol "y *ar `chy, n. Etym: [Poly- + -archy: cf. F. polyarchie. Cf. Polarchy. ]

 

Defn: A government by many persons, of whatever order or class. Cudworth.

 

POLYATOMIC

Pol `y *a *tom "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + atomic. ] (Chem. )(a ) Having more than one atom in the molecule; consisting of several atoms. (b ) Having a valence greater than one. [Obs. ]

 

POLYAUTOGRAPHY

Pol `y *au *tog "ra *phy, n. Etym: [Poly- + autography. ]

 

Defn: The act or practice of multiplying copies of one's own handwriting, or of manuscripts, by printing from stone, -- a species of lithography.

 

POLYBASIC

Pol `y *ba "sic, a. Etym: [Poly- + basic. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: Capable of neutralizing, or of combining with, several molecules of a monacid base; having several hydrogen atoms capable of being replaced by basic radicals; -- said of certain acids; as, sulphuric acid is polybasic.

 

POLYBASITE

Pol `y *ba "site, n. Etym: [See Polybasic. ] (Min. )

 

Defn: An iron-black ore of silver, consisting of silver, sulphur, and antimony, with some copper and arsenic.

 

POLYBRANCHIA

Pol `y *bran "chi *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Branchia. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A division of Nudibranchiata including those which have numerous branchiæ on the back.

 

POLYBROMIDE

Pol `y *bro "mide, n. Etym: [Poly- + bromide. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: A bromide containing more than one atom of bromine in the molecule.

 

POLYCARPELLARY

POLYCARPELLARY Pol `y *car "pel *la *ry, a. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Composed of several or numerous carpels; -- said of such fruits as the orange.

 

POLYCARPIC; POLYCARPOUS

Pol `y *car "pic, Pol `y *car "pous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Bot. )(a ) Bearing fruit repeatedly, or year after year. (b ) Having several pistils in one flower.

 

POLYCHAETA

Pol `y *chæ "ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. , from Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: One of the two principal groups of Chætopoda. It includes those that have prominent parapodia and fascicles of setæ. See Illust. under Parapodia.

 

POLYCHLORIDE

Pol `y *chlo "ride, n. Etym: [Poly- + chloride. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: A chloride containing more than one atom of chlorine in the molecule.

 

POLYCHOERANY

Pol `y *choer "a *ny, n. Etym: [Gr.

 

Defn: A government by many chiefs, princes, or rules. [Obs. ] Cudworth.

 

POLYCHORD

Pol "y *chord, a. Etym: [Gr.

 

Defn: Having many strings.

 

POLYCHORD

POLYCHORD Pol "y *chord, n. (Mus. )(a ) A musical instrument of ten strings. (b ) An apparatus for coupling two octave notes, capable of being attached to a keyed instrument.

 

POLYCHREST

Pol "y *chrest, n. Etym: [Gr. polychreste.] (Med. )

 

Defn: A medicine that serves for many uses, or that cures many diseases. [Obs. ] Polychrest salt (Old Med. Chem. ), potassium sulphate, specifically obtained by fusing niter with sulphur.

 

POLYCHROISM

Pol "y *chro *ism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: Same as Pleochroism.

 

POLYCHROITE

Pol "y *chro *ite, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polychroïte.] (Chem. )

 

Defn: The coloring matter of saffron; -- formerly so called because of the change of color on treatment with certain acids; -- called also crocin, and safranin.

 

POLYCHROMATE

Pol `y *chro "mate, n. Etym: [See Polychromic. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: A salt of a polychromic acid.

 

POLYCHROMATE

Pol `y *chro "mate, n. Etym: [See Polychromatic. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: A compound which exhibits, or from which may be prepared, a variety of colors, as certain solutions derived from vegetables, which display colors by fluorescence.

 

POLYCHROMATIC

Pol `y *chro *mat "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + chromatic. ]

 

Defn: Showing a variety, or a change, of colors. Polychromatic acid (Old Chem. ), a substance obtained by the action of nitric acid on aloes.

 

POLYCHROME

Pol "y *chrome, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Chem. )

 

Defn: Esculin; -- so called in allusion to its fluorescent solutions. [R.]

 

POLYCHROME

Pol "y *chrome, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polychrome. ]

 

Defn: Executed in the manner of polychromy; as, polychrome printing.

 

POLYCHROMIC

Pol `y *chro "mic, a. Etym: [Poly- + (sense 1 ) Gr. chromic. ]

 

1. Polychromatic.

 

2. (Chem. )

 

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, any one of several acids (known only in their salts ) which contain more than one atom of chromium.

 

POLYCHROMOUS

POLYCHROMOUS Pol `y *chro "mous, a.

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to polychromy; many-colored; polychromatic.

 

POLYCHROMY

Pol "y *chro `my, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Anc. Art )

 

Defn: The art or practice of combining different colors, especially brilliant ones, in an artistic way.

 

POLYCHRONIOUS

Pol `y *chro "ni *ous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: Enduring through a long time; chronic.

 

POLYCLINIC

Pol `y *clin "ic, n. Etym: [Poly- + clinic. ] (Med. )

 

Defn: A clinic in which diseases of many sorts are treated; especially, an institution in which clinical instruction is given in all kinds of disease.

 

POLYCONIC

Pol `y *con "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + conic. ]

 

Defn: Pertaining to, or based upon, many cones. Polyconic projection (Map Making ), a projection of the earth's surface, or any portion thereof, by which each narrow zone is projected upon a conical surface that touches the sphere along this zone, the conical surface being then unrolled. This projection differs from conic projection in that latter assumes but one cone for the whole map. Polyconic projection is that in use in the United States coast and geodetic survey.

 

POLYCOTYLEDON

Pol `y *cot `y *le "don, n. Etym: [Poly- + cotyledon: cf. F.polycotylédone.] (Bot. )

 

Defn: A plant that has many, or more than two, cotyledons in the seed. -- Pol `y *cot `y *led "on *ous, a.

 

POLYCOTYLEDONARY

Pol `y *cot `y *led "on *a *ry, a. Etym: [Poly- + cotyledonary. ] (Anat. )

 

Defn: Having the villi of the placenta collected into definite patches, or cotyledons.

 

POLYCRACY

Po *lyc "ra *cy, n. Etym: [Poly- + -cracy, as in democracy. ]

 

Defn: Government by many rulers; polyarchy.

 

POLYCROTIC

Pol `y *crot "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Physiol.)

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to polycrotism; manifesting polycrotism; as, a polycrotic pulse; a polycrotic pulse curve.

 

POLYCROTISM

POLYCROTISM Po *lyc "ro *tism, n. (Physiol.)

 

Defn: That state or condition of the pulse in which the pulse curve, or sphygmogram, shows several secondary crests or elevations; -- contrasted with monocrotism and dicrotism.

 

POLYCYSTID

POLYCYSTID Pol `y *cys "tid, n. (Zoöl.)(a ) One of the Polycystidea. (b ) One of the Polycystina. -- a.

 

Defn: Pertaining to the Polycystidea, or the Polycystina.

 

POLYCYSTIDEA

Pol `y *cys *tid "e *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Cystidea. ](Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A division of Gregarinæ including those that have two or more internal divisions of the body.

 

POLYCYSTINA

Pol `y *cys *ti "na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Cyst. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A division of Radiolaria including numerous minute marine species. The skeleton is composed of silica, and is often very elegant in form and sculpture. Many have been found in the fossil state.

 

POLYCYSTINE

POLYCYSTINE Pol `y *cys "tine, a. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Pertaining to the Polycystina. -- n.

 

Defn: One of the Polycystina.

 

POLYCYTTARIA

Pol `y *cyt *ta "ri *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A division of Radiolaria. It includes those having one more central capsules.

 

POLYDACTYLISM

Pol `y *dac "tyl *ism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polydactylisme.] (Anat. )

 

Defn: The possession of more that the normal number of digits.

 

POLYDIPSIA

Pol `y *dip "si *a, n. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Med. )

 

Defn: Excessive and constant thirst occasioned by disease.

 

POLYEDRON

POLYEDRON Pol `y *e "dron, n.

 

Defn: See Polyhedron.

 

POLYEDROUS

POLYEDROUS Pol `y *e "drous, a.

 

Defn: See Polyhedral.

 

POLYEIDIC

Pol `y *ei "dic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Passing through several distinct larval forms; -- having several distinct kinds of young.

 

POLYEIDISM

POLYEIDISM Pol `y *ei "dism, n. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: The quality or state of being polyeidic.

 

POLYEMBRYONATE

Pol `y *em "bry *o *nate, a. Etym: [Poly- + embryonate. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: Consisting of, or having, several embryos; polyembryonic.

 

POLYEMBRYONIC

Pol `y *em `bry *on "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + embryonic. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: Polyembryonate.

 

POLYEMBRYONY

Pol `y *em "bry *o *ny, n. Etym: [See Poly-, and Embryo. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: The production of two or more embryos in one seed, due either to the existence and fertilization of more than one embryonic sac or to the origination of embryos outside of the embryonic sac.

 

POLYFOIL

Pol "y *foil, n. Etym: [Poly- + foil, n.] (Arch. )

 

Defn: Same as Multifoil.

 

POLYGALA

Po *lyg "a *la, n. Etym: [L., milkwort, fr. Gr.

 

Defn: A genus of bitter herbs or shrubs having eight stamens and a two-celled ovary (as the Seneca snakeroot, the flowering wintergreen, etc. ); milkwort.

 

POLYGALACEOUS

POLYGALACEOUS Pol `y *ga *la "ceous, a.

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Polygalaceæ ) of which Polygala is the type.

 

POLYGALIC

POLYGALIC Po *lyg "a *lic, a. (Chem. )

 

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, Polygala; specifically, designating an acrid glucoside (called polygalic acid, senegin, etc. ), resembling, or possibly identical with, saponin.

 

POLYGAMIA

Pol `y *ga "mi *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polygamous. ] (Bot. )(a ) A Linnæan class of plants, characterized by having both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant. (b ) A name given by Linnæus to file orders of plants having syngenesious flowers.

 

POLYGAMIAN

POLYGAMIAN Pol `y *ga "mi *an, a. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Polygamous.

 

POLYGAMIST

Po *lyg "a *mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polygamiste, polygame, Gr. a.]

 

Defn: One who practices polygamy, or maintains its lawfulness.

 

POLYGAMIZE

POLYGAMIZE Po *lyg "a *mize, v. i.

 

Defn: To practice polygamy; to marry several wives. Sylvester. Coleridge.

 

POLYGAMOUS

Po *lyg "a *mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Bigamy. ]

 

1. Of or pertaining to polygamy; characterized by, or involving, polygamy; having a plurality of wives; as, polygamous marriages; -- opposed to monogamous.

 

2. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Pairing with more than one female. Most deer, cattle, and sheep are polygamous. Darwin.

 

3. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Belonging to the Polygamia; bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant.

 

POLYGAMY

Po *lyg "a *my, n. Etym: [Gr. polygamie. ]

 

1. The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; -- opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy. See the Note under Bigamy, and cf. Polyandry.

 

2. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: The state or habit of having more than one mate.

 

3. (Bot. )

 

Defn: The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers.

 

POLYGASTRIAN

POLYGASTRIAN Pol `y *gas "tri *an, n. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: One of the Polygastrica. [Obs. ]

 

POLYGASTRIC

Pol `y *gas "tric, a. Etym: [Poly- + gastric: cf. F. polygastrique.]

 

1. (Anat. )

 

Defn: Having several bellies; -- applied to muscles which are made up of several bellies separated by short tendons.

 

2. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Pertaining to the Polygastrica. [Obs. ]

 

POLYGASTRIC

POLYGASTRIC Pol `y *gas "tric, n. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: One of the Polygastrica.

 

POLYGASTRICA

Pol `y *gas "tri *ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL. So called because they were supposed to have several stomachs, or digestive cavities.] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: The Infusoria. [Obs. ]

 

POLYGENESIS; POLYGENY

Pol `y *gen "e *sis, Po *lyg "e *ny, n. Etym: [Poly- + genesis, or root of Gr. (Biol.)

 

Defn: The theory that living organisms originate in cells or embryos of different kinds, instead of coming from a single cell; -- opposed to monogenesis.

 

POLYGENETIC

POLYGENETIC Pol `y *ge *net "ic, a.

 

1. Having many distinct sources; originating at various places or times. 2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to polygenesis; polyphyletic. Polygenetic mountain range (Geol.), one which is composite, or consists of two or more monogenetic ranges, each having had its own history of development. Dana.

 

POLYGENIC

POLYGENIC Pol `y *gen "ic, a. (Biol.)

 

Defn: Of or relating to polygeny; polygenetic.

 

POLYGENISM

Po *lyg "e *nism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polygénisme.] (Biol.)

 

Defn: The doctrine that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair.

 

POLYGENIST

POLYGENIST Po *lyg "e *nist, n. (Biol.)

 

Defn: One who maintains that animals of the same species have sprung from more than one original pair; -- opposed to monogenist.

 

POLYGENOUS

Po *lyg "e *nous, a. Etym: [Poly- + -genous: cf. Gr.

 

Defn: Consisting of, or containing, many kinds; as, a polygenous mountain. Kirwan.

 

POLYGLOT

Pol "y *glot, a. Etym: [Gr. polyglotte. ]

 

1. Containing, or made up, of, several languages; as, a polyglot lexicon, Bible.

 

2. Versed in, or speaking, many languages.

 

POLYGLOT

POLYGLOT Pol "y *glot, n.

 

1. One who speaks several languages. [R.] "A polyglot, or good linguist. " Howell.

 

2. A book containing several versions of the same text, or containing the same subject matter in several languages; esp. , the Scriptures in several languages. Enriched by the publication of polyglots. Abp. Newcome.

 

POLYGLOTTOUS

Pol `y *glot "tous, a. Etym: [See Polyglot. ]

 

Defn: Speaking many languages; polyglot. [R.] "The polyglottous tribes of America. " Max Müller.

 

POLYGON

Pol "y *gon, n. Etym: [Gr. polygone. ] (Geom.)

 

Defn: A plane figure having many angles, and consequently many sides; esp. , one whose perimeter consists of more than four sides; any figure having many angles. Polygon of forces (Mech. ), a polygonal figure, the sides of which, taken successively, represent, in length and direction, several forces acting simultaneously upon one point, so that the side necessary to complete the figure represents the resultant of those forces. Cf. Parallelogram of forces, under Parallelogram.

 

POLYGONACEOUS

Pol `y *go *na "ceous, a. Etym: [See Polygonum. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to a natural order of apetalous plants (Polygonaceæ ), of which the knotweeds (species of Polygonum ) are the type, and which includes also the docks (Rumex ), the buckwheat, rhubarb, sea grape (Coccoloba ), and several other genera.

 

POLYGONAL

POLYGONAL Po *lyg "o *nal, a.

 

Defn: Having many angles. Polygonal numbers, certain figurate numbers. See under Figurate.

 

POLYGONEUTIC

Pol `y *go *neu "tic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Having two or more broods in a season.

 

POLYGONOMETRY

Pol `y *go *nom "e *try, n. Etym: [Polygon + -metry. ]

 

Defn: The doctrine of polygons; an extension of some of the principles of trigonometry to the case of polygons.

 

POLYGONOUS

POLYGONOUS Po *lyg "o *nous, a.

 

Defn: Polygonal.

 

POLYGONUM

Po *lyg "o *num, n. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: A genus of plants embracing a large number of species, including bistort, knotweed, smartweed, etc.

 

POLYGONY

POLYGONY Po *lyg "o *ny, n. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Any plant of the genus Polygonum.

 

POLYGORDIUS

Pol `y *gor "di *us, n. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Gordius. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A genus of marine annelids, believed to be an ancient or ancestral type. It is remarkable for its simplicity of structure and want of parapodia. It is the type of the order Archiannelida, or Gymnotoma. See Loeven's larva.

 

POLYGRAM

Pol "y *gram, n. Etym: [Gr.

 

Defn: A figure consisting of many lines. [R.] Barlow.

 

POLYGRAPH

Pol "y *graph, n. Etym: [Gr. polygraphe.]

 

1. An instrument for multiplying copies of a writing; a manifold writer; a copying machine.

 

2. In bibliography, a collection of different works, either by one or several authors. Brande & C.

 

POLYGRAPHIC; POLYGRAPHICAL

Pol `y *graph "ic, Pol `y *graph "ic *al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polygraphique.]

 

Defn: Pertaining to, or employed in, polygraphy; as, a polygraphic instrument.

 

2. Done with a polygraph; as, a polygraphic copy.

 

POLYGRAPHY

Po *lyg "ra *phy, n. Etym: [Gr. polygraphie.]

 

1. Much writing; writing of many books. [Obs. ] Fuller.

 

2. The art of writing in various ciphers, and of deciphering the same. [R.]

 

3. The art or practice of using a polygraph.

 

POLYGROOVED

Pol "y *grooved `, a. Etym: [Poly- + groove. ]

 

Defn: Having many grooves; as, a polygrooved rifle or gun (referring to the rifling ).

 

POLYGYN

Pol "y *gyn, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polygyne. See Polygyny. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: A plant of the order Polygynia.

 

POLYGYNIA

Pol `y *gyn "i *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polygyny. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: A Linnæan order of plants having many styles.

 

POLYGYNIAN; POLYGYNOUS

POLYGYNIAN; POLYGYNOUS Pol `y *gyn "i *an, Po *lyg "y *nous, a. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Having many styles; belonging to the order Polygynia.

 

POLYGYNIST

POLYGYNIST Po *lyg "y *nist, n.

 

Defn: One who practices or advocates polygyny. H. Spenser.

 

POLYGYNY

Po *lyg "y *ny, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: The state or practice of having several wives at the same time; marriage to several wives. H. Spenser.

 

POLYHALITE

Pol `y *ha "lite, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Min. )

 

Defn: A mineral usually occurring in fibrous masses, of a brick-red color, being tinged with iron, and consisting chiefly of the sulphates of lime, magnesia, and soda.

 

POLYHEDRAL; POLYHEDRICAL

Pol `y *he "dral, Pol `y *hed "ric *al, a. Etym: [See Polyhedron. ] (Geom.)

 

Defn: Having many sides, as a solid body. Polyhedral angle, an angle bounded by three or more plane angles having a common vertex.

 

POLYHEDRON

Pol `y *he "dron, n.; pl. E. Polyhedrons., L. Polyhedra. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. polyèdre.]

 

1. (Geom.)

 

Defn: A body or solid contained by many sides or planes.

 

2. (Opt. )

 

Defn: A polyscope, or multiplying glass.

 

POLYHEDROUS

POLYHEDROUS Pol `y *he "drous, a.

 

Defn: Polyhedral.

 

POLYHISTOR

Pol `y *his "tor, n. Etym: [Gr.

 

Defn: One versed in various learning. [R.]

 

POLYHYMNIA

Pol `y *hym "ni *a, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Anc. Myth. )

 

Defn: The Muse of lyric poetry.

 

POLYIODIDE

POLYIODIDE Pol `y *i "o *dide, n. (Chem. )

 

Defn: A iodide having more than one atom of iodine in the molecule.

 

POLYLOGY

Po *lyl "o *gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

 

Defn: Talkativeness. [R.]

 

POLYLOQUENT

Po *lyl "o *quent, a. Etym: [Poly- + L. loquens, p. pr. of logui to speak. ]

 

Defn: Garrulous; loquacious. [R.]

 

POLYMASTISM

Pol `y *mas "tism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Anat. )

 

Defn: The condition of having more than two mammæ, or breasts.

 

POLYMATHIC

Pol `y *math "ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polymathique. See Polymathy. ]

 

Defn: Pertaining to polymathy; acquainted with many branches of learning.

 

POLYMATHIST

POLYMATHIST Po *lym "a *thist, n.

 

Defn: One versed in many sciences; a person of various learning.

 

POLYMATHY

Po *lym "a *thy, n. Etym: [Gr.

 

Defn: The knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning. Johnson.

 

POLYMENISCOUS

Pol `y *me *nis "cous, a. Etym: [See Poly-, and Meniscus. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Having numerous facets; -- said of the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans.

 

POLYMER

Pol "y *mer, n. Etym: [See Polymeric. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: Any one of two or more substances related to each other by polymerism; specifically, a substance produced from another substance by chemical polymerization. [Formerly also written polymere. ]

 

POLYMERIC

Pol `y *mer "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Chem. )

 

Defn: Having the same percentage composition (that is, having the same elements united in the same proportion by weight ), but different molecular weights; -- often used with with; thus, cyanic acid (CNOH ), fulminic acid (C2N2O2H2 ), and cyanuric acid (C3N3O3H3 ), are polymeric with each other.

 

Note: The figures expressing the number of atoms of each element in a number of polymeric substances are respectively multiples and factors of each other, or have some simple common divisor. The relation may be merely a numerical one, as in the example given above, or a chemical one, as in the case of aldehyde, paraldehyde, and metaldehyde.

 

POLYMERISM

POLYMERISM Po *lym "er *ism, n. (Chem. )(a ) The state, quality, or relation of two or more polymeric substances. (b ) The act or process of forming polymers.

 

POLYMERIZATION

POLYMERIZATION Pol `y *mer `i *za "tion, n. (Chem. )

 

Defn: The act or process of changing to a polymeric form; the condition resulting from such change.

 

POLYMERIZE

POLYMERIZE Pol "y *mer *ize, v. t. (Chem. )

 

Defn: To cause polymerization of; to produce polymers from; to increase the molecular weight of, without changing the atomic proportions; thus, certain acids polymerize aldehyde.

 

POLYMERIZE

POLYMERIZE Pol "y *mer *ize, v. i. (Chem. )

 

Defn: To change into another substance having the same atomic proportions, but a higher molecular weight; to undergo polymerization; thus, aldehyde polymerizes in forming paraldehyde.

 

POLYMEROUS

POLYMEROUS Po *lym "er *ous, a.

 

1. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Having many parts or members in each set. Gray.

 

2. (Chem. )

 

Defn: Polymeric. [Obs. ]

 

POLYMNIA

POLYMNIA Po *lym "ni *a, n.

 

Defn: See Polyhymnia.

 

POLYMNITE

Pol "ym *nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min. )

 

Defn: A stone marked with dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as to represent rivers, marshes, etc.

 

POLYMORPH

Pol "y *morph, n. Etym: [Gr. polymorphe. ] (Crystallog.)

 

Defn: A substance capable of crystallizing in several distinct forms; also, any one of these forms. Cf. Allomorph.

 

POLYMORPHIC

POLYMORPHIC Pol `y *mor "phic, a.

 

Defn: Polymorphous.

 

POLYMORPHISM

POLYMORPHISM Pol `y *mor "phism, n.

 

1. (Crystallog.)

 

Defn: Same as Pleomorphism.

 

2. (Biol.) (a ) The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form. (b ) Existence in many forms; the coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.

 

POLYMORPHOSIS

Pol `y *mor *pho "sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Morphosis. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: The assumption of several structural forms without a corresponding difference in function; -- said of sponges, etc.

 

POLYMORPHOUS

POLYMORPHOUS Pol `y *mor "phous, a.

 

1. Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles; as, a polymorphous author. De Quincey.

 

2. (Biol.)

 

Defn: Having, or occurring in, several distinct forms; -- opposed to monomorphic.

 

POLYMORPHY

POLYMORPHY Pol "y *mor `phy, n.

 

Defn: Existence in many forms; polymorphism.

 

POLY-MOUNTAIN

POLY-MOUNTAIN Po `ly-moun "tain, n. (Bot. )(a ) Same as Poly, n. (b ) The closely related Teucrium montanum, formerly called Polium montanum, a plant of Southern Europe. (c ) The Bartsia alpina, a low purple-flowered herb of Europe.

 

POLYMYODAE

Pol `y *my "o *dæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polymyoid. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Same as Oscines.

 

POLYMYODOUS

POLYMYODOUS Pol `y *my "o *dous, a. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Polymyoid.

 

POLYMYOID

Po *lym "y *oid, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Having numerous vocal muscles; of or pertaining to the Polymyodæ.

 

POLYNEME

Pol "y *neme, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Any one of numerous species of tropical food fishes of the family Polynemidæ. They have several slender filaments, often very long, below the pectoral fin. Some of them yield isinglass of good quality. Called also threadfish.

 

POLYNEMOID

Pol `y *ne "moid, a. Etym: [Polyneme + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to the polynemes, or the family Polynemidæ.

 

POLYNESIAN

POLYNESIAN Pol `y *ne "sian, a.

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to Polynesia (the islands of the eastern and central Pacific ), or to the Polynesians.

 

POLYNESIANS

Pol `y *ne "sians, n. pl. ; sing. Polynesian. (Ethnol.)

 

Defn: The race of men native in Polynesia.

 

POLYNIA

Po *lyn "i *a, n. Etym: [Russ. poluineia a warm place in water, i. e., a place which does not freeze. ]

 

Defn: The open sea supposed to surround the north pole. Kane.

 

POLYNOMIAL

Pol `y *no "mi *al, n. Etym: [Poly- + -nomial, as in monomial, binomial: cf. F. polynôme.] (Alg. )

 

Defn: An expression composed of two or more terms, connected by the signs plus or minus; as, a2 - 2ab + b2.

 

POLYNOMIAL

POLYNOMIAL Pol `y *no "mi *al, a.

 

1. Containing many names or terms; multinominal; as, the polynomial theorem.

 

2. Consisting of two or more words; having names consisting of two or more words; as, a polynomial name; polynomial nomenclature.

 

POLYNUCLEAR

Pol `y *nu "cle *ar, a. Etym: [Poly- + nuclear. ] (Biol.)

 

Defn: Containing many nuclei.

 

POLYNUCLEOLAR

Pol `y *nu *cle "o *lar, a. Etym: [Poly- + nucleolar. ] (Biol.)

 

Defn: Having more than one nucleolus.

 

POLYOMMATOUS

Pol `y *om "ma *tous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: Having many eyes.

 

POLYONOMOUS

Pol `y *on "o *mous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: Having many names or titles; polyonymous. Sir W. Jones.

 

POLYONOMY

Pol `y *on "o *my, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr.

 

Defn: The use of a variety of names for the same object. G. S. Faber.

 

POLYONYM

POLYONYM Pol "y *o *nym, n.

 

1. An object which has a variety of names.

 

2. A polynomial name or term.

 

POLYONYMOUS

POLYONYMOUS Pol `y *on "y *mous, a.

 

Defn: Polyonomous.

 

POLYOPTRON; POLYOPTRUM

Pol `y *op "tron, Pol `y *op "trum, n. Etym: [NL. , from Gr. (Opt. )

 

Defn: A glass through which objects appear multiplied, but diminished in size. [R.]

 

POLYORAMA

Pol `y *o *ra "ma, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: A view of many objects; also, a sort of panorama with dissolving views.

 

POLYP

Pol "yp, n. Etym: [L. polypus, Gr. polype. See Poly- and Foot, and cf. Polypode, Polypody, Poulp.] (Zoöl.) (a ) One of the feeding or nutritive zooids of a hydroid or coral. (b ) One of the Anthozoa. (c ) pl.

 

Defn: Same as Anthozoa. See Anthozoa, Madreporaria, Hydroid. [Written also polype. ] Fresh-water polyp, the hydra. -- Polyp stem (Zoöl.), that portion of the stem of a siphonophore which bears the polypites, or feeding zooids.

 

POLYPAROUS

Po *lyp "a *rous, a. Etym: [Poly- + L. parere to produce. ]

 

Defn: Producing or bearing a great number; bringing forth many.

 

POLYPARY

Pol "y *pa *ry, n.; pl. Polyparies. Etym: [See Polyp. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Same as Polypidom.

 

POLYPE

Pol "ype, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: See Polyp.

 

POLYPEAN

POLYPEAN Pol `y *pe "an, a. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to a polyp, or polyps.

 

POLYPERYTHRIN

Pol `y *pe *ryth "rin, n. Etym: [Polyp + Gr. (Physiol. Chem. )

 

Defn: A coloring matter found in many simple Anthozoa and some hydroids.

 

POLYPETALOUS

Pol `y *pet "al *ous, a. Etym: [Poly- + petal. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: Consisting of, or having, several or many separate petals; as, a polypetalous corolla, flower, or plant. Martyn.

 

POLYPHAGOUS

Po *lyph "a *gous, a. Etym: [L. polyphagus, Gr. polyphage. ]

 

Defn: Eating, or subsisting on, many kinds of food; as, polyphagous animals.

 

POLYPHAGY

POLYPHAGY Po *lyph ""a *gy, n.

 

Defn: The practice or faculty of subsisting on many kinds of food.

 

POLYPHARMACY

Pol `y *phar "ma *cy, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polypharmacie.] (Med. )(a ) The act or practice of prescribing too many medicines. (b ) A prescription made up of many medicines or ingredients. Dunglison.

 

POLYPHASE

POLYPHASE Pol "y *phase, a. [Poly- + phase. ] (Elec.)

 

Defn: Having or producing two or more phases; multiphase; as, a polyphase machine, a machine producing two or more pressure waves of electro-motive force, differing in phase; a polyphase current.

 

POLYPHASER

POLYPHASER Pol "y *phas `er, n. (Elec.)

 

Defn: A machine generating more than one pressure wave; a multiphaser.

 

POLYPHEMUS

Pol `y *phe "mus, n. Etym: [L. Polyphemus the one-eyed Cyclops who was blinded by Ulysses. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A very large American moth (Telea polyphemus ) belonging to the Silkworm family (Bombycidæ ). Its larva, which is very large, bright green, with silvery tubercles, and with oblique white stripes on the sides, feeds on the oak, chestnut, willow, cherry, apple, and other trees. It produces a large amount of strong silk. Called also American silkworm.

 

POLYPHONE

POLYPHONE Pol "y *phone, n.

 

Defn: A character or vocal sign representing more than one sound, as read, which is pronounced red or rèd.

 

POLYPHONIC

Pol `y *phon "ic, a. Etym: [Gr. polyphone. ]

 

1. Having a multiplicity of sounds.

 

2. Characterized by polyphony; as, Assyrian polyphonic characters.

 

3. (Mus. )

 

Defn: Consisting of several tone series, or melodic parts, progressing simultaneously according to the laws of counterpoint; contrapuntal; as, a polyphonic composition; -- opposed to homophonic, or monodic.

 

POLYPHONISM

POLYPHONISM Po *lyph "o *nism, n.

 

Defn: Polyphony.

 

POLYPHONIST

POLYPHONIST Po *lyph "o *nist, n.

 

1. A proficient in the art of multiplying sounds; a ventriloquist.

 

2. (Mus. )

 

Defn: A master of polyphony; a contrapuntist.

 

POLYPHONOUS

POLYPHONOUS Po *lyph "o *nous, a.

 

Defn: Same as Polyphonic.

 

POLYPHONY

Po *lyph "o *ny, n. Etym: [Gr.

 

1. Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo.

 

2. Plurality of sounds and articulations expressed by the same vocal sign.

 

3. (Mus. )

 

Defn: Composition in mutually related, equally important parts which share the melody among them; contrapuntal composition; -- opposed to homophony, in which the melody is given to one part only, the others filling out the harmony. See Counterpoint.

 

POLYPHORE

Pol "y *phore, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: A receptacle which bears many ovaries.

 

POLYPHOTAL; POLYPHOTE

POLYPHOTAL; POLYPHOTE Pol `y *pho "tal, Pol "y *phote, a. [Poly- + Gr. ,, light. ] (Elec.)

 

Defn: Pertaining to or designating arc lamps so constructed that more than one can be used on a single circuit.

 

POLYPHYLETIC

Pol `y *phy *let "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Biol.)

 

Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, descent from more than one root form, or from many different root forms; polygenetic; -- opposed to Ant: monophyletic.

 

POLYPHYLLOUS

Po *lyph "yl *lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Many-leaved; as, a polyphyllous calyx or perianth.

 

POLYPI

Pol "y *pi, n. pl. Etym: [NL. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: The Anthozoa.

 

POLYPIDE

POLYPIDE Pol "y *pide, n. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: One of the ordinary zooids of the Bryozoa. [Spellt also polypid.]

 

POLYPIDOM

Po *lyp "i *dom, n. Etym: [Polypus + L. domus house. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A coral, or corallum; also, one of the coral-like structure made by bryozoans and hydroids.

 

POLYPIER

Po `ly `pier ", n. Etym: [F.]

 

Defn: A polypidom.

 

POLYPIFERA

Pol `y *pif "e *ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: The Anthozoa.

 

POLYPIFEROUS

Pol *y *pif "er *ous, a. Etym: [Polypus + -ferous. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Bearing polyps, or polypites.

 

POLYPIPAROUS

Pol `y *pip "a *rous, a. Etym: [Polypus + L. parere to produce. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Producing polyps.

 

POLYPITE

POLYPITE Pol "y *pite, n.

 

1. (Zoöl.) (a ) One of the feeding zooids, or polyps, of a coral, hydroid, or siphonophore; a hydranth. See Illust. of Campanularian. (b ) Sometimes, the manubrium of a hydroid medusa.

 

2. (Paleon.)

 

Defn: A fossil coral.

 

POLYPLACOPHORA

Pol `y *pla *coph "o *ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Placophora. ](Zoöl.)

 

Defn: See Placophora.

 

POLYPLASTIC

Pol `y *plas "tic, a. Etym: [Poly- + -plastic. ] (Biol.)

 

Defn: Assuming, or having the power of assuming, many forms; as, a polyplastic element which does not preserve its original shape.

 

POLYPODE

Pol `y *pode, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polypode. See Polypody. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: A plant of the genus Polypodium; polypody. [Written also polypod. ]

 

POLYPODE

Pol "y *pode, n. Etym: [Gr. polypode. See Polyp. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: An animal having many feet; a myriapod.

 

POLYPODIUM

Pol "y *po `di *um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Polyp, and cf. 2d Polypode. ](Bot. )

 

Defn: A genus of plants of the order Filices or ferns. The fructifications are in uncovered roundish points, called sori, scattered over the inferior surface of the frond or leaf. There are numerous species.

 

POLYPODY

POLYPODY Pol "y *po `dy, n. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Any plant of the genus Polypodium.

 

POLYPOID

Pol "y *poid, a. Etym: [Polyp + -oid.]

 

1. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Like a polyp; having the nature of a polyp, but lacking the tentacles or other parts.

 

2. (Med. )

 

Defn: Resembling a polypus in appearance; having a character like that of a polypus.

 

POLYPOMEDUSAE

Pol `y *po *me *du "sæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polyp, and Medusa. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Same as Hydrozoa.

 

POLYPOROUS

Po *lyp "o *rous, a. Etym: [Poly- + porous. ]

 

Defn: Having many pores. Wright.

 

POLYPORUS

Po *lyp "o *rus, n.; pl. Polypori. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: A genus of fungi having the under surface full of minute pores; also, any fungus of this genus.

 

Note: Polyporus fomentarius was formerly dried and cut in slices for tinder, called amadou. P. betulinus is common in America, and forms very large thick white semicircular excrescences on birch trees. Several species of Polyporous are considered edible.

 

POLYPOUS

Pol "y *pous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. polypeux. See Polyp. ]

 

Defn: Of the nature of a polypus; having many feet or roots, like the polypus; affected with polypus.

 

POLYPRAGMATIC; POLYPRAGMATICAL

Pol `y *prag *mat "ic, Pol `y *prag *mat "ic *al, a. Etym: [Poly- + pragmatic, -ical.]

 

Defn: Overbusy; officious. [R.] Heywood.

 

POLYPRAGMATY

Pol `y *prag "ma *ty, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: The state of being overbusy. [R.]

 

POLYPROTODONTA

Pol `y *pro `to *don "ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A division of marsupials in which there are more fore incisor teeth in each jaw.

 

POLYPTEROIDEI

Po *lyp `te *roi "de *i, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polypterus, and -oid.](Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A suborder of existing ganoid fishes having numerous fins along the back. The bichir, or Polypterus, is the type. See Illust. under Crossopterygian.

 

POLYPTERUS

Po *lyp `te *rus, n. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: An African genus of ganoid fishes including the bichir.

 

POLYPTOTON

Pol `yp *to "ton, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

 

Defn: A figure by which a word is repeated in different forms, cases, numbers, genders, etc. , as in Tennyson's line, -- "My own heart's heart, and ownest own, farewell. "

 

POLYPUS

Pol "y *pus, n.; pl. E. Polypuses, L. Polypi. Etym: [L. See Polyp. ]

 

1. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Same as Polyp.

 

2. (Med. )

 

Defn: A tumor, usually with a narrow base, somewhat resembling a pear, -- found in the nose, uterus, etc. , and produced by hypertrophy of some portion of the mucous membrane.

 

POLYRHIZOUS

Pol `y *rhi "zous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Having numerous roots, or rootlets.

 

POLYSCHEMATIST

Pol `y *sche "ma *tist, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr.

 

Defn: Having, or existing in, many different forms or fashions; multiform.

 

POLYSCOPE

Pol "y *scope, n. Etym: [Gr. polyscope. ]

 

1. (Opt. )

 

Defn: A glass which makes a single object appear as many; a multiplying glass. Hutton.

 

2. (Med. )

 

Defn: An apparatus for affording a view of the different cavities of the body.

 

POLYSEPALOUS

Pol `y *sep "al *ous, a. Etym: [Poly- + sepal. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: Having the sepals separate from each other.

 

POLYSILICIC

Pol `y *si *lic "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + silicic. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to compounds formed by the condensation of two or more molecules of silicic acid. Polysilicic acid (Chem. ), any one of a series of acids formed by the condensation of two or more molecules of silicic acid, with elimination of water.

 

POLYSPAST

Pol "y *spast, n. Etym: [L. polyspaston, fr. Gr. polyspaste.] (Surg.)

 

Defn: A machine consisting of many pulleys; specifically, an apparatus formerly used for reducing luxations.

 

POLYSPERMOUS

Pol `y *sper "mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Containing many seeds; as, a polyspermous capsule or berry. Martyn.

 

POLYSPERMY

POLYSPERMY Pol "y *sper `my, n. (Biol.)

 

Defn: Fullness of sperm, or seed; the passage of more than one spermatozoön into the vitellus in the impregnation of the ovum.

 

POLYSPOROUS

Pol `y *spor "ous, a. Etym: [Poly- + spore. ] (Bot. )

 

Defn: Containing many spores.

 

POLYSTOMATA

Pol `y *stom "a *ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. , from Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A division of trematode worms having more two suckers. Called also Polystomea and Polystoma.

 

POLYSTOME

Pol "y *stome, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Having many mouths.

 

POLYSTOME

POLYSTOME Pol "y *stome, n. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: An animal having many mouths; -- applied to Protozoa.

 

POLYSTYLE

Pol "y *style, a. Etym: [Gr. polystyle. ] (Arch. )

 

Defn: Having many columns; -- said of a building, especially of an interior part or court; as, a polystyle hall. -- n.

 

Defn: A polystyle hall or edifice.

 

POLYSULPHIDE

Pol `y *sul "phide, n. Etym: [Poly- + sulphide. ] (Chem. )

 

Defn: A sulphide having more than one atom of sulphur in the molecule; -- contrasted with monosulphide.

 

POLYSULPHURET

POLYSULPHURET Pol `y *sul "phu *ret, n. (Chem. )

 

Defn: A polysulphide. [Obsoles.]

 

POLYSYLLABIC; POLYSYLLABICAL

Pol `y *syl *lab "ic, Pol `y *syl *lab "ic *al, a. Etym: [Gr. polysyllabique.]

 

Defn: Pertaining to a polysyllable; containing, or characterized by, polysyllables; consisting of more than three syllables.

 

POLYSYLLABICISM

POLYSYLLABICISM Pol `y *syl *lab "i *cism, n.

 

Defn: Polysyllabism.

 

POLYSYLLABICITY

POLYSYLLABICITY Pol `y *syl `la *bic "i *ty, n.

 

Defn: Polysyllabism.

 

POLYSYLLABISM

POLYSYLLABISM Pol `y *syl "la *bism, n.

 

Defn: The quality or state of being polysyllabic.

 

POLYSYLLABLE

Pol "y *syl `la *ble, n. Etym: [Poly- + syllable. ]

 

Defn: A word of many syllables, or consisting of more syllables than three; -- words of less than four syllables being called monosyllables, dissyllables, and trisyllables.

 

POLYSYNDETIC

POLYSYNDETIC Pol `y *syn *det "ic, a.

 

Defn: Characterized by polysyndeton, or the multiplication of conjunctions. -- Pol `y *syn *det "ic *al *ly, adv.

 

POLYSYNDETON

Pol `y *syn "de *ton, n. Etym: [NL. , from Gr. (Rhet.)

 

Defn: A figure by which the conjunction is often repeated, as in the sentence, "We have ships and men and money and stores. " Opposed to asyndeton.

 

POLYSYNTHESIS

Pol `y *syn "the *sis, n. Etym: [Poly- + synthesis. ]

 

1. The act or process of combining many separate elements into a whole.

 

2. (Philol.)

 

Defn: The formation of a word by the combination of several simple words, as in the aboriginal languages of America; agglutination. Latham.

 

POLYSYNTHETIC

Pol `y *syn *thet "ic, a. Etym: [Poly- + synthetic. ]

 

Defn: Characterized by polysynthesis; agglutinative. Polysynthetic twinning (Min. ), repeated twinning, like that of the triclinic feldspar, producing fine parallel bands in alternately reversed positions.

 

POLYSYNTHETICISM

POLYSYNTHETICISM Pol `y *syn *thet "i *cism, n.

 

Defn: Polysynthesis.

 

POLYTECHNIC

Pol `y *tech "nic, a. Etym: [Gr. polytechnique. ]

 

Defn: Comprehending, or relating to, many arts and sciences; -- applied particularly to schools in which many branches of art and science are taught with especial reference to their practical application; also to exhibitions of machinery and industrial products.

 

POLYTECHNICAL

POLYTECHNICAL Pol `y *tech "nic *al, a.

 

Defn: Polytechnic.

 

POLYTECHNICS

POLYTECHNICS Pol `y *tech "nics, n.

 

Defn: The science of the mechanic arts.

 

POLYTHALAMIA

Pol `y *tha *la "mi *a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Polythalamous. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A division of Foraminifera including those having a manychambered shell.

 

POLYTHALAMOUS

Pol `y *thal "a *mous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Many-chambered; -- applied to shells of Foraminifera and cephalopods. See Illust. of Nautilus.

 

POLYTHEISM

Pol "y *the *ism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. polythéisme.]

 

Defn: The doctrine of, or belief in, a plurality of gods. In the Old Testament, the gradual development of polytheism from the primitive monotheism may be learned. Shaff-Herzog.

 

POLYTHEIST

Pol "y *the *ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. polythéiste.]

 

Defn: One who believes in, or maintains the doctrine of, a plurality of gods.

 

POLYTHEISTIC; POLYTHEISTICAL

POLYTHEISTIC; POLYTHEISTICAL Pol `y *the *is "tic, Pol `y *the *is "tic *al, a.

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to polytheism; characterized by polytheism; professing or advocating polytheism; as, polytheistic worship; a polytheistic author, or nation. -- Pol `y *the *is "tic *al *ly, adv.

 

POLYTHEIZE

POLYTHEIZE Pol "y *the *ize, v. i.

 

Defn: To adhere to, advocate, or inculcate, the doctrine of polytheism. Milman.

 

POLYTHELISM

Pol `y *the "lism, n. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. qhlh ` a nipple. ] (Anat. )

 

Defn: The condition of having more than two teats, or nipples.

 

POLYTOCOUS

Po *lyt "o *cous, a. Etym: [Gr.

 

1. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Bearing fruit repeatedly, as most perennial plants; polycarpic.

 

2. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Producing many or young.

 

POLYTOMOUS

Po *lyt "o *mous, a. Etym: [Poly- + Gr. (Bot. )

 

Defn: Subdivided into many distinct subordinate parts, which, however, not being jointed to the petiole, are not true leaflets; -- said of leaves. Henslow.

 

POLYTOMY

POLYTOMY Po *lyt "o *my, n. (Logic )

 

Defn: A division into many members. F. Bowen.

 

POLYTUNGSTATE

POLYTUNGSTATE Pol `y *tung "state, n.

 

Defn: A salt of polytungstic acid.

 

POLYTUNGSTIC

POLYTUNGSTIC Pol `y *tung "stic, a. (Chem. )

 

Defn: Containing several tungsten atoms or radicals; as, polytungstic acid. Polytungstic acid (Chem. ), any one of several complex acids of tungsten containing more than one atom of tungsten.

 

POLYTYPE

Pol "y *type, n. Etym: [Poly- + -type. ] (Print. )

 

Defn: A cast, or facsimile copy, of an engraved block, matter in type, etc. (see citation ); as, a polytype in relief. By pressing the wood cut into semifluid metal, an intaglio matrix is produced: and from this matrix, in a similar way, a polytype in relief is obtained. Hansard.

 

POLYTYPE

POLYTYPE Pol "y *type, a. (Print. )

 

Defn: Of or pertaining to polytypes; obtained by polytyping; as, a polytype plate.

 

POLYTYPE

Pol "y *type, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polytyped; p. pr. & vb. n.Polytyping.] (Print. )

 

Defn: To produce a polytype of; as, to polytype an engraving.

 

POLYURIA

Pol `y *u "ri *a, n. Etym: [NL. See Poly-, and Urine. ] (Med. )

 

Defn: A persistently excessive flow of watery urine, with low specific gravity and without the presence of either albumin or sugar. It is generally accompanied with more or less thirst.

 

POLYVALENT

Po *lyv "a *lent, a. Etym: [Poly- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valent.](Chem. )

 

Defn: Multivalent.

 

POLYVE

Pol "yve, n. Etym: [See Polive. ]

 

Defn: A pulley. [Obs. ]

 

POLYZOA

Pol `y *zo "a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. , fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Same as Bryozoa. See Illust. under Bryozoa, and Phylactolæmata.

 

POLYZOAN

POLYZOAN Pol `y *zo "an, n. (Zoöl.)(a ) Any species of Polyzoa; one of the Polyzoa. (b ) A polyzoön.

 

POLYZOARIUM

Pol `y *zo *a "ri *um, n.; pl. Polyzoaria. Etym: [NL. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: Same as Polyzoary.

 

POLYZOARY

POLYZOARY Pol `y *zo "a *ry, n. (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: The compound organism of a polyzoan.

 

POLYZONAL

Pol `y *zon "al, a. Etym: [Poly- + zonal. ]

 

Defn: Consisting of many zones or rings. Polyzonal lens (Opt. ), a lens made up of pieces arranged zones or rings, -- used in the lanterns of lighthouses.

 

POLYZOON; POLYZOOEN

Pol `y *zo "ön, n.; pl. Polyzoa. Etym: [NL. See Polyzoan. ] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: One of the individual zooids forming the compound organism of a polyzoan.

 

New American Oxford Dictionary

poly

pol y |ˈpälē ˈpɑli | ▶noun ( pl. polys ) informal short for. • polyester. • polytechnic. • polyethylene.

 

poly-

poly- |ˈpɑli | ▶comb. form many; much: polyandry | polychrome. • Chemistry denoting the presence of many atoms or groups of a particular kind in a molecule: polycarbonate. ORIGIN from Greek polus ‘much, ’ polloi ‘many. ’

 

polyacetylene

polyacetylene |ˌpɒlɪəˈsɛtɪliːn | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Chemistry a black electrically conducting solid which is a hydrocarbon polymer containing chains of carbon atoms joined by alternate double and single bonds.

 

polyacrylamide

pol y a cryl a mide |ˌpälēəˈkriləˌmīd ˌpɑliˈækrələˌmaɪd | ▶noun a synthetic resin made by polymerizing acrylamide, esp. a water-soluble polymer used to form or stabilize gels and as a thickening or clarifying agent.

 

polyadic

pol y ad ic |ˌpälēˈadik ˈpɑliˌædɪk | ▶adjective involving three or more quantities, elements, or individuals. ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from poly- ‘many, ’ on the pattern of words such as dyadic, monadic.

 

polyamide

pol y am ide |ˌpälēˈamīd ˌpɑliˈæmaɪd | ▶noun a synthetic polymer of a type made by the linkage of an amino group of one molecule and a carboxylic acid group of another, including many synthetic fibers such as nylon.

 

polyamory

pol y am o ry |ˌpälēˈamərē ˌpɑliˈæməri | ▶noun the philosophy or state of being in love or romantically involved with more than one person at the same time. DERIVATIVES pol y am o rous adjective, pol y am o rist noun ORIGIN from poly- ‘many ’ + Latin amor ‘love ’ + -y, on the pattern of polygamy and polyandry .

 

polyandry

pol y an dry |ˈpälēˌandrē pɑːliˈændri | ▶noun polygamy in which a woman has more than one husband. Compare with polygyny. • Zoology a pattern of mating in which a female animal has more than one male mate. DERIVATIVES pol y an drous |ˌpälēˈandrəs |adjective ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek anēr, andr- ‘male. ’

 

polyanthus

pol y an thus |ˌpälēˈanTHəs ˌpɑliˈænθəs | ▶noun ( pl. same ) a herbaceous flowering plant that is a complex hybrid between the wild primrose and primulas, cultivated in Europe since the 17th century. [Primula × polyantha, family Primulaceae. ] ORIGIN early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek anthos ‘flower. ’

 

polyatomic

pol y a tom ic |ˌpälēəˈtämik ˌpɑliəˈtəmɪk | ▶adjective consisting of many atoms.

 

polybag

poly |bag |ˈpɒlɪbag | ▶noun informal a bag made of polythene film.

 

Polybius

Polybius |pəˈlɪbɪəs | ( c. 200 – c. 118 bc ), Greek historian. His forty books of Histories (only partially extant ) chronicled the rise of the Roman Empire from 220 to 146 bc .

 

polybutylene

pol y bu tyl ene |ˌpäliˈbyo͞otlˌēn ˌpɑliˈbjutlin | ▶noun a thermoplastic polymer used in water pipes.

 

polycarbonate

pol y car bon ate |ˌpäliˈkärbəˌnāt, -nət ˌpɑliˈkɑrbənət | ▶noun a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked through carbonate groups, including many molding materials and films.

 

Polycarp, St.

Pol y carp, St. |ˈpälēˌkärp ˌseɪnt ˈpɑlikɑrp | ( c. 69 – c. 155 ), Greek bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor. The leading Christian figure in Smyrna, he was arrested during a pagan festival, refused to recant his faith, and was burned to death. Feast day, February 23.

 

Polychaeta

Pol y chae ta |ˌpäliˈkētə ˌpɑlɪˈkitə |Zoology a class of marine annelid worms that comprises the bristle worms. ORIGIN modern Latin (plural ), from Greek polu- ‘many ’ + khaitē ‘mane ’ (taken to mean ‘bristle ’).

 

polychaete

pol y chaete |ˈpälēˌkēt ˈpɑliˌkit |(also polychete ) ▶noun Zoology a marine annelid worm of the class Polychaeta; a bristle worm. ▶adjective relating to or denoting polychaetes. DERIVATIVES pol y chae tous |ˌpälēˈkētəs |adjective

 

polychlorinated biphenyl

pol y chlo rin at ed bi phen yl |ˌpälēˈklôrəˌnātid bīˈfenəl ˌpɑliˈklɔrəˌneɪdɪd baɪˈfɛnəl |(abbr.: PCB ) ▶noun Chemistry any of a class of toxic aromatic compounds, often formed as waste in industrial processes, whose molecules contain two benzene rings in which hydrogen atoms have been replaced by chlorine atoms.

 

polychromatic

pol y chro mat ic |ˌpälikrōˈmatik ˌpɑlikrəˈmædɪk | ▶adjective of two or more colors; multicolored. • Physics (of light or other radiation ) of a number of wavelengths or frequencies. DERIVATIVES pol y chro ma tism |-ˈkrōməˌtizəm |noun

 

polychrome

pol y chrome |ˈpäliˌkrōm ˈpɑliˌkroʊm | ▶adjective painted, printed, or decorated in several colors. ▶noun varied coloring. • a work of art in several colors, esp. a statue. ▶verb [ with obj. ] (usu. as adj. polychromed ) execute or decorate (a work of art ) in several colors. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek polukhrōmos, from polu- ‘many ’ + khrōma ‘color. ’

 

polychromy

pol y chro my |ˈpäliˌkrōmē ˈpɑliˌkroʊmi | ▶noun the art of painting in several colors, esp. as applied to ancient pottery, sculpture, and architecture.

 

polyclinic

poly |clinic |ˌpɒlɪˈklɪnɪk | ▶noun a clinic (typically one independent of a hospital ) where both general and specialist examinations and treatments are available to outpatients.

 

Polyclitus

Polyclitus |ˌpɒlɪˈklʌɪtəs | (5th century bc ), Greek sculptor, known for his statues of idealized male athletes. Two Roman copies of his works survive, the Doryphoros (spear-bearer ) and the Diadumenos (youth fastening a band round his head ).

 

polyclonal

pol y clo nal |ˌpäliˈklōnl ˌpɑliˈkloʊnl | ▶adjective Medicine & Biology consisting of or derived from many clones.

 

polycotton

poly |cot ¦ton |ˈpɒlɪkɒt (ə )n | ▶noun [ mass noun ] fabric made from a mixture of cotton and polyester fibre.

 

polycrest

pol y crest ▶noun (in homeopathy ) a remedy that is frequently used, in general or for a particular condition: the poison ivy polycrests. ORIGIN 19th cent.: from Greek polu- ‘many ’ + khraosos ‘use. ’

 

polycrystalline

pol y crys tal line |ˌpäliˈkristələn, -ˌlīn, -ˌlēn ˌpɑliˈkrɪstələn | ▶adjective (of a metal or other solid ) consisting of many crystalline parts that are randomly oriented with respect to each other.

 

polyculture

pol y cul ture |ˌpäliˈkəlCHər ˈpɑlikəltʃər | ▶noun the simultaneous cultivation or exploitation of several crops or kinds of animals.

 

polycyclic

pol y cy clic |ˌpäliˈsiklik, -ˈsīklik ˌpɑliˈsɪklɪk | ▶adjective of, relating to, or resulting from many cycles. • Chemistry (of an organic compound ) having several rings of atoms in the molecule. • Geology (of a landform or deposit ) having undergone two or more cycles of erosion and deposition.

 

polycystic

pol y cys tic |ˌpäliˈsistik ˌpɑləˈsɪstɪk | ▶adjective Medicine characterized by multiple cysts.

 

polycythemia

pol y cy the mi a |ˌpäliˌsīˈTHēmēə ˌpɑliˌsaɪˈθimiə |(Brit. polycythaemia ) ▶noun Medicine an abnormally increased concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, through either reduction of plasma volume or increase in red cell numbers. It may be a primary disease of unknown cause, or a secondary condition linked to respiratory or circulatory disorder or cancer. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin polycythaemia, from poly- ‘many ’ + -cyte ‘cell ’ + Greek haima ‘blood ’ + -ia 1 .

 

polydactyly

pol y dac ty ly |ˌpäliˈdaktəlē ˌpɑlɪˈdæktəli | ▶noun a condition in which a person or animal has more than five fingers or toes on one, or on each, hand or foot. DERIVATIVES pol y dac tyl adjective & noun ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from Greek poludaktulos (from polu- ‘many ’ + daktulos ‘finger ’) + -y 3 .

 

Polydeuces

Pol y deu ces |ˌpäliˈd (y )o͞oˌsēz pɑlɪˈdjusiz | another name for Pollux ( sense 1 ).

 

polydipsia

pol y dip si a |ˌpälēˈdipsēə pɑliˈdɪpsiə | ▶noun Medicine abnormally great thirst as a symptom of disease (such as diabetes ) or psychological disturbance. ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from Greek poludipsios ‘very thirsty, ’ poludipsos ‘causing great thirst, ’ based on dipsa ‘thirst. ’

 

polydrug

poly |drug ▶adjective relating to or denoting the use of several, typically illegal, drugs together: prolonged polydrug abuse.

 

polyelectrolyte

pol y e lec tro lyte |ˌpälēəˈlektrəˌlīt ˌpɑliɪˈlɛktrəlaɪt | ▶noun Chemistry a polymer that has several ionizable groups along the molecule, esp. any of those used for coagulating and flocculating particles during water treatment or for making electrophoretic gels.

 

polyembryony

pol y em bry o ny |ˌpälēˈembrēənē, -emˈbrīənē pɑliˈɛmbriəni | ▶noun Biology the formation of more than one embryo from a single fertilized ovum or in a single seed. DERIVATIVES pol y em bry on ic |-ˌembrēˈänik |adjective

 

polyene

pol y ene |ˈpälēˌēn ˈpɑliˌin | ▶noun Chemistry a hydrocarbon with several carbon –carbon double bonds, esp. one having a chain of alternating single and double bonds.

 

polyester

pol y es ter |ˈpälēˌestər ˈˌpɑliˈˌɛstər | ▶noun a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by ester groups, used chiefly to make synthetic textile fibers. • a fabric made from polyester fiber.

 

polyethnic

pol y eth nic |ˌpälēˈeTHnik pɑliˈɛθnɪk | ▶adjective belonging to, comprising, or containing many ethnic groups. DERIVATIVES pol y eth nic i ty |-eTHˈnisətē |noun

 

polyethylene

pol y eth yl ene |ˌpälēˈeTHəlēn ˌpɑliˈɛθəlin | ▶noun a tough, light, flexible synthetic resin made by polymerizing ethylene, chiefly used for plastic bags, food containers, and other packaging.

 

polyethylene glycol

pol y eth yl ene gly col ▶noun a synthetic resin made by polymerizing ethylene glycol, in particular any of a series of water-soluble oligomers and polymers used chiefly as solvents or waxes.

 

polyethylene terephthalate

pol y eth yl ene ter eph thal ate |ˌterə (f )ˈTHalˌāt pɑliˌɛθəlin ˌtɛrəfˈθæleɪt |(abbr.: PET ) ▶noun a synthetic resin made by copolymerizing ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, widely used to make polyester fibers.

 

Polyfilla

Poly |filla ▶noun [ mass noun ] trademark a type of plaster used to make minor building repairs, such as filling small holes.

 

polygamous

po lyg a mous |pəˈligəməs pəˈlɪɡəməs | ▶adjective practicing, relating to, or involving polygamy: polygamous societies. • Zoology (of an animal ) typically having more than one mate. • Botany (of a plant ) bearing some flowers with stamens only, some with pistils only, and some with both, on the same or different plants. DERIVATIVES po lyg a mous ly adverb ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Greek polugamos (from polu- ‘much, often ’ + -gamos ‘marrying ’) + -ous .

 

polygamy

po lyg a my |pəˈligəmē pəˈlɪɡəmi | ▶noun 1 the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. • Zoology a pattern of mating in which an animal has more than one mate. 2 Botany the condition of bearing some male, some female, and sometimes some perfect flowers on the same plant. DERIVATIVES po lyg a mist |-mist |noun polygamy ( sense 1 ) ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from French polygamie, via late Latin from Greek polugamia, from polugamos ‘often marrying. ’

 

polygene

pol y gene |ˈpäliˌjēn ˈpɑliʤin | ▶noun Genetics a gene whose individual effect on a phenotype is too small to be observed, but which can act together with others to produce observable variation. ORIGIN 1940s: back-formation from polygenic .

 

polygenesis

pol y gen e sis |ˌpäliˈjenəsəs pɑliˈʤɛnəsəs | ▶noun origination from several independent sources, in particular: • Biology the hypothetical origination of a race or species from a number of independent stocks. Compare with polygeny. • the hypothetical origination of language or of a surname from a number of independent sources in different places at different times.

 

polygenetic

pol y ge net ic |ˌpälijəˈnetik ˌpɑliʤəˈnɛtɪk | ▶adjective of or relating to polygenesis; having more than one origin or source. • Geology denoting or originating from a volcano that has erupted several times. DERIVATIVES pol y ge net i cal ly |-ik (ə )lē |adverb

 

polygenic

pol y gen ic |ˌpäliˈjenik pɑliˈʤɛnɪk | ▶adjective Genetics of, relating to, or determined by polygenes. DERIVATIVES pol y gen i cal ly |-ik (ə )lē |adverb ORIGIN 1940s: from Greek polugenēs ‘of many kinds ’ + -ic .

 

polygenism

po lyg e nism |pəˈlijəˌnizəm pəˈlɪʤənɪzəm | ▶noun the doctrine of polygeny. DERIVATIVES po lyg e nist |ˌpəˈlijənist |noun & adjective

 

polygeny

po lyg e ny |pəˈlijənē pəˈlɪʤəni | ▶noun the theory (not now generally held ) that humans evolved from several independent pairs of ancestors. Compare with polygenesis.

 

polyglot

pol y glot |ˈpäliˌglät ˈpɑliˌɡlɑt | ▶adjective knowing or using several languages: a polyglot career woman. • (of a book ) having the text translated into several languages: polyglot and bilingual technical dictionaries. ▶noun a person who knows and is able to use several languages. DERIVATIVES pol y glot ism |-ˌglätˌizəm |noun ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from French polyglotte, from Greek poluglōttos, from polu- ‘many ’ + glōtta ‘tongue. ’

 

polygon

pol y gon |ˈpäliˌgän ˈpɑliˌɡɑn | ▶noun Geometry a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles, and typically five or more. DERIVATIVES po lyg o nal |pəˈligənl |adjective, po lyg o nal ly adverb ORIGIN late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek polugōnon, neuter (used as a noun ) of polugōnos ‘many-angled. ’

 

polygon of forces

poly |gon of forces ▶noun Physics a polygon that represents by the length and direction of its sides all the forces acting on a body or point.

 

polygonum

po lyg o num |pəˈligənəm pəˈlɪɡənəm | ▶noun a plant of a genus that includes knotgrass and knotweed, of which some are weeds and some are garden ornamentals. [Genus Polygonum, family Polygonaceae. ] ORIGIN modern Latin, from Greek polu- ‘many ’ + gonu ‘knee, joint ’ (because of the swollen joints sheathed by stipules ).

 

polygraph

pol y graph |ˈpäliˌgraf ˈpɑliˌɡræf | ▶noun a machine designed to detect and record changes in physiological characteristics, such as a person's pulse and breathing rates, used esp. as a lie detector. • a lie-detector test carried out with a machine of this type. DERIVATIVES pol y graph ic |ˌpäliˈgrafik |adjective

 

polygyne

pol y gyne |ˈpäliˌjīn ˈpɑlɪʤaɪn | ▶adjective Entomology (of a social insect ) having more than one egg-laying queen in each colony.

 

polygyny

po lyg y ny |pəˈlijənē pəˈlɪʤɪni | ▶noun polygamy in which a man has more than one wife. Compare with polyandry. • Zoology a pattern of mating in which a male animal has more than one female mate. DERIVATIVES po lyg y nous |pəˈlijənəs |adjective ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek gunē ‘woman. ’

 

polyhedron

pol y he dron |ˌpäliˈhēdrən ˌpɑliˈhidrən | ▶noun ( pl. polyhedrons or polyhedra |-ˈhēdrə | ) Geometry a solid figure with many plane faces, typically more than six. DERIVATIVES pol y he dral |-ˈhēdrəl |adjective, pol y he dric |-ˈhēdrik |adjective ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Greek poluedron, neuter (used as a noun ) of poluedros ‘many-sided. ’

 

polyhistor

pol y his tor |ˌpäliˈhistər ˈpɑlihɪstər | ▶noun another term for polymath. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Greek poluistōr ‘very learned, ’ from polu- ‘much, very ’ + histōr ‘wise man. ’

 

Polyhymnia

Pol y hym ni a |ˌpäliˈhimnēə ˌpɑliˈhɪmniə |Greek & Roman Mythology the Muse of the art of mime. ORIGIN via Latin from Greek, literally ‘she of the many hymns. ’

 

polyimide

polyimide |ˌpɒlɪˈɪmʌɪd | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by imide groups, used chiefly for heat-resistant films and coatings.

 

polymath

pol y math |ˈpäliˌmaTH ˈpɑliˌmæθ | ▶noun a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning. DERIVATIVES pol y math ic |ˌpäliˈmaTHik |adjective, po lym a thy |pəˈliməTHē, ˈpäliˌmaTHē |noun ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Greek polumathēs ‘having learned much, ’ from polu- ‘much ’ + the stem of manthanein ‘learn. ’

 

polymer

pol y mer |ˈpäləmər ˈpɑləmər | ▶noun Chemistry a substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number of similar units bonded together, e.g., many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins. DERIVATIVES pol y mer ic |ˌpäləˈmerik |adjective ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from German, from Greek polumeros ‘having many parts, ’ from polu- ‘many ’ + meros ‘a share. ’

 

polymerase

pol y mer ase |pəˈliməˌrās, -ˌrāz pəˈlɪməreɪz | ▶noun Biochemistry an enzyme that brings about the formation of a particular polymer, esp. DNA or RNA. See also transcriptase.

 

polymerase chain reaction

poly |mer ¦ase chain re |ac ¦tion ▶noun Biochemistry a method of making multiple copies of a DNA sequence, involving repeated reactions with a polymerase.

 

polymerize

po lym er ize |pəˈliməˌrīz, ˈpäləməˌrīz ˈpɑːliməraɪz ˌpəˈlɪməˌraɪz | ▶verb Chemistry combine or cause to combine to form a polymer. DERIVATIVES po lym er iz a ble |pəˌliməˈrīzəbəl, päləmə - |adjective, po lym er i za tion |pəˌlimərəˈzāSHən, ˌpäləmərə - |noun

 

polymerous

po lym er ous |pəˈlimərəs pəˈlɪmərəs | ▶adjective Biology having or consisting of many parts.

 

polymetallic

poly |met ¦al ¦lic |ˌpɒlɪmɛˈtɑlɪk | ▶adjective chiefly Geology containing or involving several metals or their ores.

 

polymethyl methacrylate

pol y meth yl meth ac ry late |ˈpäliˌmeTHəl meTHˈakrəˌlāt ˌpɑlɪˌmɛθəl mɛθˈækrəleɪt | ▶noun a glassy synthetic resin obtained by polymerizing methyl methacrylate, used to make perspex, plexiglas, and lucite.

 

polymict

polymict |ˈpɒlɪmɪkt | ▶adjective Geology (of a conglomerate ) consisting of fragments of several different rock types. ORIGIN 1950s: from poly- ‘much ’ + Greek miktos ‘mixed ’.

 

polymorph

pol y morph |ˈpäliˌmôrf ˈpɑlimɔrf | ▶noun an organism or inorganic object or material that takes various forms. • Physiology a polymorphonuclear leukocyte. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Greek polumorphos, from polu- ‘many ’ + morphē ‘form. ’

 

polymorphism

pol y mor phism |ˌpäliˈmôrˌfizəm ˌpɑliˈmɔrfɪzəm | ▶noun the occurrence of something in several different forms, in particular: • Biology the occurrence of different forms among the members of a population or colony, or in the life cycle of an individual organism. • Genetics the presence of genetic variation within a population, upon which natural selection can operate. • Biochemistry the occurrence of a number of alternative forms within a section of a nucleic acid or protein molecule. • Computing a feature of a programming language that allows routines to use variables of different types at different times. DERIVATIVES pol y mor phic |-ˈmôrfik |adjective, pol y mor phous |-ˈmôrfəs |adjective

 

polymorphonuclear

pol y mor pho nu cle ar |ˌpäliˌmôrfōˈn (y )o͞oklēər ˌpɑliˌmɔrfoʊˈnjuklɪər | ▶adjective Physiology (of a leukocyte ) having a nucleus with several lobes and a cytoplasm that contains granules, as in an eosinophil or basophil.

 

polymorphous perversity

pol y mor phous per ver si ty |ˌpäliˈmôrfəs ˌpɑliˌmɔrfəs pərˈvərsədi | ▶noun Psychology a generalized sexual desire that can be excited and gratified in many ways, normal in young children but unusual in adults. DERIVATIVES pol y mor phous ly per verse adjective

 

polymyositis

polymyositis |ˌpɒlɪmʌɪə (ʊ )ˈsʌɪtɪs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine a condition marked by inflammation and degeneration of skeletal muscle throughout the body.

 

polymyxin

pol y myx in |ˌpäliˈmiksən ˌpɑliˈmɪksɪn | ▶noun Medicine any of a group of polypeptide antibiotics that are active chiefly against Gram-negative bacteria. [Polymyxins are obtained from soil bacteria of the genus Bacillus, in particular B. polymyxa. ] ORIGIN 1940s: from modern Latin polymyxa, from Greek polu- ‘much ’ + muxa ‘slime ’ + -in 1 .

 

Polynesia

Pol y ne sia |ˌpäləˈnēZHə ˌpɑləˈniʒə | a region of the central Pacific Ocean that lies east of Micronesia and Melanesia and contains the easternmost of the three large groups of Pacific islands, including Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia. ORIGIN from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek nēsos ‘island. ’

 

Polynesian

Pol y ne sian |ˌpäləˈnēZHən ˌpɑləˈniʒən | ▶adjective of or relating to Polynesia, its people, or their languages. ▶noun 1 a native or inhabitant of Polynesia, or a person of Polynesian descent. 2 a group of Austronesian languages spoken in Polynesia, including Maori, Hawaiian, and Samoan.

 

polyneuritis

pol y neu ri tis |ˌpälin (y )o͝orˈītis ˌpɑlənjuˈraɪdɪs | ▶noun Medicine any disorder that affects the peripheral nerves collectively. DERIVATIVES pol y neu rit ic |-n (y )o͝orˈitik |adjective

 

polyneuropathy

pol y neu rop a thy |ˌpälin (y )o͝orˈäpəTHē ˌpɑliˌnjuˈrɑpəθi | ▶noun Medicine a general degeneration of peripheral nerves that spreads toward the center of the body.

 

polynomial

pol y no mi al |ˌpäləˈnōmēəl ˌpɑliˈnoʊmiəl | ▶adjective consisting of several terms. ▶noun Mathematics an expression of more than two algebraic terms, esp. the sum of several terms that contain different powers of the same variable (s ). • Biology a Latin name with more than two parts. ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from poly- ‘many, ’ on the pattern of multinomial .

 

polynomial time

pol y no mi al time ▶noun Computing the time required for a computer to solve a problem, where this time is a simple polynomial function of the size of the input.

 

polynosic

pol y nos ic |ˌpäliˈnäsik ˌpɑlɪˈnɑsɪk | ▶noun a long-fiber rayon-and-polyester blend with a soft finish, used mainly in clothing.

 

polynuclear

pol y nu cle ar |ˌpäliˈn (y )o͞oklēər ˌpɑliˈnjuklɪər | ▶adjective Chemistry (of a complex ) containing more than one metal atom. • (of a compound ) polycyclic.

 

polynucleotide

pol y nu cle o tide |ˌpäliˈn (y )o͞oklēəˌtīd ˌpɑliˈnjukliətaɪd | ▶noun Biochemistry a linear polymer whose molecule is composed of many nucleotide units, constituting a section of a nucleic acid molecule.

 

polynya

po lyn ya |ˌpälənˈyä poʊˈlɪnjə | ▶noun a stretch of open water surrounded by ice, esp. in Arctic seas. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from Russian, from the base of pole ‘field. ’

 

polyoma virus

pol y o ma vi rus |ˌpälēˈōmə ˌpɑliˈoʊmə ˌvaɪrəs | ▶noun Medicine any of a group of DNA viruses that are usually endemic in their host species without causing disease but that can cause tumors when injected into other species.

 

polyp

pol yp |ˈpäləp ˈpɑləp | ▶noun 1 Zoology a solitary or colonial sedentary form of a coelenterate such as a sea anemone, typically having a columnar body with the mouth uppermost surrounded by a ring of tentacles. In some species, polyps are a phase in the life cycle that alternates with a medusoid phase. Compare with medusa. 2 Medicine a small growth, typically benign and with a stalk, protruding from a mucous membrane. DERIVATIVES pol yp ous |ˈpäləpəs |adjective polyp ( sense 2 ) ORIGIN late Middle English ( sense 2 ): from Old French polipe, from Latin polypus (see polypus ). Sense 1 dates from the mid 18th cent.

 

polypary

pol y par y |ˈpäləˌperē ˈpɑləpɛri | ▶noun ( pl. polyparies ) Zoology the common stem or skeletal support of a colony of polyps, to which the individual zooids are attached. ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin polyparium, from Latin polypus (see polypus ).

 

polypeptide

pol y pep tide |ˌpäliˈpepˌtīd ˌpɑliˈpɛptaɪd | ▶noun Biochemistry a linear organic polymer consisting of a large number of amino-acid residues bonded together in a chain, forming part of (or the whole of ) a protein molecule. ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + peptone + -ide .

 

polyphagous

po lyph a gous |pəˈlifəgəs pəˈlɪfəɡəs | ▶adjective Zoology (of an animal ) able to feed on various kinds of food. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Greek poluphagos ‘eating to excess ’ + -ous .

 

polypharmacy

pol y phar ma cy |ˌpälēˈfärməsē ˌpɑliˈfɑrməsi | ▶noun ( pl. polypharmacies ) the simultaneous use of multiple drugs to treat a single ailment or condition. • the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient, for one or more conditions.

 

polyphase

pol y phase |ˈpäliˌfāz ˈpɑlifeɪz | ▶adjective consisting of or occurring in a number of separate stages. • (of an electrical device or circuit ) designed to supply or use simultaneously several alternating currents of the same voltage and frequency but with different phases. DERIVATIVES pol y pha sic |ˌpäliˈfāzik |adjective

 

Polyphemus

Pol y phe mus |ˌpäləˈfēməs ˌpɑliˈfiməs |Greek Mythology a Cyclops who trapped Odysseus and some of his companions in a cave, from which they escaped by putting out his one eye while he slept. In another story, Polyphemus loved the sea nymph Galatea, and in jealousy killed his rival Acis.

 

polyphenol

pol y phe nol |ˌpäliˈfēˌnôl, -ˌnōl ˌpɑliˈfinɔl | ▶noun Chemistry a compound containing more than one phenolic hydroxyl group.

 

polyphonic

pol y phon ic |ˌpäliˈfänik ˈˌpɑliˈfɑnɪk | ▶adjective producing many sounds simultaneously; many-voiced: a 64 -voice polyphonic sound module. • Music (esp. of vocal music ) in two or more parts, each having a melody of its own; contrapuntal. Compare with homophonic. • Music (of an instrument ) capable of producing more than one note at a time. DERIVATIVES pol y phon i cal ly |-ik (ə )lē |adverb ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from Greek poluphōnos (from polu- ‘many ’ + phōnē ‘voice, sound ’) + -ic .

 

polyphony

po lyph o ny |pəˈlifənē pəˈlɪfəni | ▶noun ( pl. polyphonies ) Music the style of simultaneously combining a number of parts, each forming an individual melody and harmonizing with each other. • a composition written, played, or sung in this style. • (on an electronic keyboard or synthesizer ) the number of notes or voices that can be played simultaneously without loss. DERIVATIVES pol y pho nist |-fənist |noun, pol y pho nous |-fənəs |adjective ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Greek poluphōnia, from polu- ‘many ’ + phōnē ‘sound. ’

 

polyphosphate

polyphosphate |ˌpɒlɪˈfɒsfeɪt | ▶noun Chemistry a salt or ester of an oxyacid with two or more phosphorus atoms in its anion, especially any of a number used chiefly as detergents or food additives.

 

polyphyletic

pol y phy let ic |ˌpälifīˈletik ˌpɑlifaɪˈlɛtɪk | ▶adjective Biology (of a group of organisms ) derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group and therefore not suitable for placing in the same taxon.

 

polypi

pol y pi |ˈpäləˌpī, -pē ˈpɑləpaɪ | plural form of polypus.

 

polypill

pol y pill |ˈpälēˌpil ˈpɑlipɪl | ▶noun a pill containing a number of medicines that all treat the same condition.

 

polyploid

pol y ploid |ˈpäliˌploid ˈpɑləplɔɪd |Biology ▶adjective (of a cell or nucleus ) containing more than two homologous sets of chromosomes. • (of an organism or species ) composed of polyploid cells. ▶noun a polyploid organism, variety, or species. DERIVATIVES pol y ploi dy noun

 

polypod

pol y pod |ˈpäləˌpäd ˈpɑləpɑd | ▶adjective Zoology having many feet or footlike appendages, esp. denoting a phase of insect larval development characterized by a segmented abdomen with rudimentary or functional appendages. ORIGIN mid 18th cent. (as a noun denoting an animal having many feet ): from French polypode ‘many-footed, ’ from Greek polupous, polupod-, from polu- ‘many ’ + pous, pod- ‘foot. ’

 

polypody

pol y po dy |ˈpäləˌpōdē ˈpɑlipoʊdi | ▶noun ( pl. polypodies ) a widely distributed fern that has stout scaly creeping rhizomes and remains green during the winter, growing on trees, walls, and stones, esp. in limestone areas. [Genus Polypodium, family Polypodiaceae: several species, in particular the common polypody (P. vulgare ).] ORIGIN late Middle English: via Latin from Greek polupodion, denoting a kind of fern, from polu- ‘many ’ + pous, pod- ‘foot. ’

 

polypoid

pol yp oid |ˈpäliˌpoid ˈpɑləpɔɪd | ▶adjective 1 Zoology of, relating to, or resembling a polyp or hydra. • of, relating to, or denoting the polyp stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate. Also called hydroid. Compare with medusoid. 2 Medicine (of a growth ) resembling or in the form of a polyp.

 

polypore

pol y pore |ˈpäliˌpôr ˈpɑlɪpɔr | ▶noun a bracket fungus in which the spores are expelled through fine pores on the underside. [Several families in the order Aphyllophorales, class Hymenomycetes, in particular Polyporaceae, which includes the dryad saddle . ]

 

polyposis

pol yp o sis |ˌpäliˈpōsəs ˌpɑliˈpoʊsəs | ▶noun Medicine a condition characterized by the presence of numerous internal polyps, esp. a hereditary disease (familial adenomatous polyposis ) that affects the colon and in which the polyps may become malignant.

 

polypropylene

pol y pro pyl ene |ˌpäliˈprōpəˌlēn pɑːliˈproʊpəliːn | ▶noun a synthetic resin that is a polymer of propylene, used esp. for ropes, fabrics, and molded objects.

 

polyptych

pol yp tych |ˈpälipˌtik ˈpɑlɪptɪk | ▶noun a painting, typically an altarpiece, consisting of more than three leaves or panels joined by hinges or folds. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from late Latin polyptycha (neuter plural ) ‘registers, ’ from Greek poluptukhos ‘having many folds, ’ from polu- ‘many ’ + ptukhē ‘fold. ’

 

polypus

pol y pus |ˈpäləpəs ˈpɑləpəs | ▶noun ( pl. polypi |-ˌpī, -ˌpē | ) archaic or technical term for polyp. ORIGIN late Middle English: via Latin from a variant of Greek polupous ‘cuttlefish, polyp, ’ from polu- ‘many ’ + pous, pod- ‘foot. ’

 

polyrhythm

pol y rhythm |ˈpäliˌriT͟Həm ˈpɑlirɪðəm | ▶noun Music a rhythm that makes use of two or more different rhythms simultaneously. DERIVATIVES pol y rhyth mic |ˌpäliˈriT͟Hmik |adjective

 

polyribosome

pol y ri bo some |ˌpäliˈrībəˌsōm ˌpɑliˈraɪbəsoʊm | ▶noun another term for polysome.

 

polysaccharide

pol y sac cha ride |ˌpäliˈsakəˌrīd ˌpɑliˈsækəraɪd | ▶noun Biochemistry a carbohydrate (e.g., starch, cellulose, or glycogen ) whose molecules consist of a number of sugar molecules bonded together.

 

polysemy

po ly se my |ˈpäliˌsemē ˈpɑliˌsɛmi | ▶noun Linguistics the coexistence of many possible meanings for a word or phrase. DERIVATIVES po ly se mic |ˌpäliˈsēmik |adjective, po ly se mous |ˌpäliˈsēməs |adjective ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek sēma ‘sign. ’

 

polysexual

pol y sex u al |ˌpälēˈsekSHo͞oəl ˌpɑliˈsɛkʃuəl | ▶adjective incorporating many different kinds of sexuality; pansexual.

 

polysome

pol y some |ˈpäliˌsōm ˈpɑləsoʊm | ▶noun Biology a cluster of ribosomes held together by a strand of messenger RNA that each ribosome is translating.

 

polystyrene

pol y sty rene |ˌpäliˈstīrēn ˈˌpɑliˈstaɪrin | ▶noun a synthetic resin that is a polymer of styrene, used chiefly as lightweight rigid foams and films.

 

polysulfide

pol y sul fide |ˌpäliˈsəlˌfīd ˌpɑliˈsəlfaɪd | ▶noun Chemistry a compound containing two or more sulfur atoms bonded together as an anion or group. • a synthetic rubber or other polymer in which the units are linked through such groups.

 

polysyllabic

pol y syl lab ic |ˌpälisəˈlabik ˈˌpɑlisəˈlæbɪk | ▶adjective (of a word ) having more than one syllable. • using or characterized by words of many syllables: polysyllabic jargon. DERIVATIVES pol y syl lab i cal ly |-səˈlabək (ə )lē |adverb

 

polysyllable

pol y syl la ble |ˈpäliˌsiləbəl, ˌpäliˈsiləbəl ˈˌpɑliˈsɪləbəl | ▶noun a polysyllabic word.

 

polysymptomatic

pol y symp to mat ic |ˌpäliˌsimptəˈmatik ˌpɑləˌsɪmptəˈmædɪk | ▶adjective (of a disease condition or a person or animal ) involving or exhibiting many symptoms.

 

polysynthetic

pol y syn thet ic |ˌpälisinˈTHetik ˌpɑləsɪnˈθɛdɪk | ▶adjective denoting or relating to a language characterized by complex words consisting of several morphemes, in which a single word may function as a whole sentence. Many American Indian languages are polysynthetic.

 

polytechnic

pol y tech nic |ˌpäliˈteknik pɑːliˈteknɪk | ▶noun an institution of higher education offering courses in many subjects, esp. vocational or technical subjects. ▶adjective dealing with or devoted to various vocational or technical subjects. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from French polytechnique, from Greek polutekhnos, from polu- ‘many ’ + tekhnē ‘art. ’

 

polytene

pol y tene |ˈpäləˌtēn ˈpɑlətin | ▶adjective Genetics relating to or denoting a giant chromosome that is composed of many parallel copies of the genetic material, as found in Drosophila fruit flies, where they are much used in genetic research. ORIGIN 1930s: from poly- ‘many ’ + -tene (from Greek tainia ‘band, ribbon ’) denoting stages of the first meiotic division.

 

polytetrafluoroethylene

pol y tet ra fluor o eth y lene |ˌpäliˌtetrəˌflo͝orōˈeTHəˌlēn ˌpɑliˌtɛtrəˌflʊəroʊˈɛθəlin | ▶noun another term for Teflon.

 

polytheism

pol y the ism |ˈpäliTHēˌizəm ˈpɑliθiˌɪzəm | ▶noun the belief in or worship of more than one god. DERIVATIVES pol y the ist |-ˌTHēist |noun, pol y the is tic |ˌpäliTHēˈistik |adjective ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from French polythéisme, from Greek polutheos ‘of many gods, ’ from polu- ‘many ’ + theos ‘god. ’

 

polythene

pol y thene |ˈpäləTHēn ˈpɑləθin | ▶noun chiefly Brit. another term for polyethylene. ORIGIN 1930s: contraction of polyethylene .

 

polythetic

polythetic |ˌpɒlɪˈθɛtɪk | ▶adjective relating to or sharing a number of characteristics which occur commonly in members of a group or class, but none of which is essential for membership of that group or class. ORIGIN 1960s: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek thetos ‘placed, arranged ’ + -ic .

 

polytonality

pol y to nal i ty |ˌpäliˌtōˈnalətē pɑliˌtoʊˈnælədi | ▶noun the simultaneous use of two or more keys in a musical composition. DERIVATIVES pol y ton al |ˌpäliˈtōnl |adjective

 

polytunnel

poly |tunnel |ˈpɒlitʌnl | ▶noun an elongated polythene-covered frame under which seedlings or other plants are grown outdoors.

 

polytype

pol y type |ˈpäliˌtīp ˈpɑlətaɪp | ▶noun Crystallography any of a number of forms of a crystalline substance that differ in only one of the dimensions of the unit cell. DERIVATIVES pol y typ ic |ˌpäliˈtipik |adjective, pol y typ ism |ˌpäliˈtīˌpizəm |noun

 

polyunsaturated

pol y un sat u rat ed |ˌpälēənˈsaCHəˌrātid ˌpɑliənˈsætʃəˌreɪdɪd | ▶adjective Chemistry (of an organic compound, esp. a fat or oil molecule ) containing several double or triple bonds between carbon atoms. Polyunsaturated fats, which are usually of plant origin, are regarded as healthier in the diet than saturated fats.

 

polyunsaturates

pol y un sat u rates |ˌpälēənˈsaCHərits ˈˌpɑliənˈsætʃərəts | ▶plural noun polyunsaturated fats or fatty acids.

 

polyurethane

pol y u re thane |ˌpäliˈyo͞orəˌTHān ˈˌpɑliˈjurəθeɪn | ▶noun a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as constituents of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and foams. ▶verb [ with obj. ] (usu. as adj. polyurethaned ) coat or protect with paint or varnish of this kind.

 

polyuria

pol y u ri a |ˌpäliˈyo͝orēə pɑliˈjʊriə | ▶noun Medicine production of abnormally large volumes of dilute urine. Compare with diuresis. DERIVATIVES pol y u ric |-ˈyo͝orik |adjective

 

polyvalent

pol y va lent |ˌpäliˈvālənt ˈˌpɑliˈveɪlənt | ▶adjective 1 Chemistry having a valence of three or more. 2 Medicine having the property of counteracting several related poisons or affording immunity against different strains of a microorganism. 3 having many different functions, forms, or facets: as emotion, love is polyvalent. DERIVATIVES pol y va lence noun

 

polyvinyl

pol y vi nyl |ˌpäliˈvīnl pɑliˈvaɪnl | ▶adjective [ attrib. ] denoting materials or objects made from polymers of vinyl compounds.

 

polyvinyl acetate

pol y vi nyl ac e tate (abbr.: PVA ) ▶noun a synthetic resin made by polymerizing vinyl acetate, used chiefly in paints and adhesives.

 

polyvinyl chloride

pol y vi nyl chlo ride (abbr.: PVC ) ▶noun a tough, chemically resistant synthetic resin made by polymerizing vinyl chloride and used for a wide variety of products including pipes, flooring, and sheeting.

 

polyvinylpyrrolidone

pol y vi nyl pyr rol i done |ˌpäliˌvīnl -piˈräləˌdōn pɑliˌvaɪnlpɪˈrɑlədoʊn | ▶noun Chemistry a water-soluble polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone, used as a synthetic blood plasma substitute and in the cosmetic, drug, and food-processing industries.

 

polywater

pol y wa ter |ˈpäliˌwôtər, -ˌwätər ˈpɑliwɔdər | ▶noun historical a supposed polymeric form of water markedly different from ordinary water, claimed as a new discovery in the early 1970s. The claim was later retracted when its properties were found to be the result of impurities.

 

Polyzoa

Pol y zo a |ˌpäliˈzōə ˌpɑlɪˈzoʊə |Zoology British term for Bryozoa. DERIVATIVES pol y zo an noun & adjective ORIGIN modern Latin (plural ), from poly- ‘many ’ + zōion ‘animal. ’

 

Oxford Dictionary

poly

poly |ˈpɒli | ▶noun ( pl. polys ) informal 1 polyester. 2 Brit. historical a polytechnic. 3 polythene.

 

poly-

poly- |ˈpɒli | ▶combining form many; much: polyandry | polychrome. • Chemistry denoting the presence of many atoms or groups of a particular kind in a molecule: polycarbonate. ORIGIN from Greek polus ‘much ’, polloi ‘many ’.

 

polyacetylene

polyacetylene |ˌpɒlɪəˈsɛtɪliːn | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Chemistry a black electrically conducting solid which is a hydrocarbon polymer containing chains of carbon atoms joined by alternate double and single bonds.

 

polyacrylamide

polyacrylamide |ˌpɒlɪəˈkrɪləmʌɪd | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin made by polymerizing acrylamide, especially a water-soluble polymer used to form or stabilize gels and as a thickening or clarifying agent.

 

polyadic

polyadic |ˌpɒlɪˈadɪk | ▶adjective involving three or more quantities, elements, or individuals. ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’, on the pattern of words such as dyadic, monadic.

 

polyamide

polyamide |ˌpɒlɪˈeɪmʌɪd, -ˈam- | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic polymer of a type made by the linkage of an amino group of one molecule and a carboxylic acid group of another, including many synthetic fibres such as nylon.

 

polyamory

polyamory |ˌpɒliˈam (ə )ri | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the practice of engaging in multiple sexual relationships with the consent of all the people involved. DERIVATIVES polyamorist |ˌpɒliˈam (ə )rɪst |noun, polyamorous |ˌpɒliˈam (ə )rəs |adjective ORIGIN 1990s: from poly- ‘many ’ + Latin amor ‘love ’.

 

polyandry

polyandry |ˈpɒlɪandri | ▶noun [ mass noun ] polygamy in which a woman has more than one husband. Compare with polygyny. • Zoology a pattern of mating in which a female animal has more than one male mate. DERIVATIVES polyandrous |-ˈandrəs |adjective ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek anēr, andr- ‘male ’.

 

polyanthus

polyanthus |ˌpɒlɪˈanθəs | ▶noun ( pl. same ) a herbaceous flowering plant which is a complex hybrid between the wild primrose and primulas, cultivated in Europe since the 17th century. ●Primula × polyantha, family Primulaceae. ORIGIN early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek anthos ‘flower ’.

 

polyatomic

poly |atom ¦ic |pɒlɪəˈtɒmɪk | ▶adjective consisting of many atoms.

 

polybag

poly |bag |ˈpɒlɪbag | ▶noun informal a bag made of polythene film.

 

Polybius

Polybius |pəˈlɪbɪəs | ( c. 200 – c. 118 bc ), Greek historian. His forty books of Histories (only partially extant ) chronicled the rise of the Roman Empire from 220 to 146 bc .

 

polybutylene

pol y bu tyl ene |ˌpäliˈbyo͞otlˌēn ˌpɑliˈbjutlin | ▶noun a thermoplastic polymer used in water pipes.

 

polycarbonate

poly |car ¦bon |ate |ˌpɒlɪˈkɑːbəneɪt | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked through carbonate groups, including many moulding materials and films.

 

Polycarp, St

Polycarp, St |ˈpɒlɪkɑːp | ( c. 69 – c. 155 ), Greek bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor. The leading Christian figure in Smyrna, he was arrested during a pagan festival, refused to recant his faith, and was burnt to death. Feast day, 23 February.

 

Polychaeta

Polychaeta |ˌpɒlɪˈkiːtə | ▶plural noun Zoology a class of marine annelid worms which comprises the bristle worms. ORIGIN modern Latin (plural ), from Greek polu- ‘many ’ + khaitē ‘mane ’ (taken to mean ‘bristle ’).

 

polychaete

polychaete |ˈpɒlɪkiːt | ▶noun Zoology a marine annelid worm of the class Polychaeta; a bristle worm.

 

polychlorinated biphenyl

polychlorinated biphenyl (abbrev.: PCB ) ▶noun Chemistry any of a class of toxic aromatic compounds, often formed as waste in industrial processes, whose molecules contain two benzene rings in which hydrogen atoms have been replaced by chlorine atoms.

 

polychromatic

poly |chro ¦mat ¦ic |ˌpɒlɪkrəˈmatɪk | ▶adjective of two or more or of varying colours; multicoloured: patterned polychromatic brickwork. • Physics (of light or other radiation ) of a number of wavelengths or frequencies. DERIVATIVES polychromatism |-ˈkrəʊmətɪz (ə )m |noun

 

polychrome

poly |chrome |ˈpɒlɪkrəʊm | ▶adjective painted or printed in several colours. ▶noun [ mass noun ] varied colouring. • [ count noun ] a work of art in several colours, especially a statue. ▶verb [ with obj. ] (usu. as adj. polychromed ) execute (a work of art ) in several colours. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek polukhrōmos, from polu- ‘many ’ + khrōma ‘colour ’.

 

polychromy

polychromy |ˈpɒlɪkrəʊmi | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the art of painting in several colours, especially as applied to ancient pottery, sculpture, and architecture.

 

polyclinic

poly |clinic |ˌpɒlɪˈklɪnɪk | ▶noun a clinic (typically one independent of a hospital ) where both general and specialist examinations and treatments are available to outpatients.

 

Polyclitus

Polyclitus |ˌpɒlɪˈklʌɪtəs | (5th century bc ), Greek sculptor, known for his statues of idealized male athletes. Two Roman copies of his works survive, the Doryphoros (spear-bearer ) and the Diadumenos (youth fastening a band round his head ).

 

polyclonal

polyclonal |ˌpɒlɪˈkləʊn (ə )l | ▶adjective Medicine & Biology consisting of or derived from many clones.

 

polycotton

poly |cot ¦ton |ˈpɒlɪkɒt (ə )n | ▶noun [ mass noun ] fabric made from a mixture of cotton and polyester fibre.

 

polycrest

pol y crest ▶noun (in homeopathy ) a remedy that is frequently used, in general or for a particular condition: the poison ivy polycrests. ORIGIN 19th cent.: from Greek polu- ‘many ’ + khraosos ‘use. ’

 

polycrystalline

poly |crys ¦tal |line |ˌpɒlɪˈkrɪstəlʌɪn | ▶adjective (of a metal or other solid ) consisting of many crystalline parts that are randomly oriented with respect to each other.

 

polyculture

poly |cul ¦ture |ˈpɒlɪkʌltʃə (r )| ▶noun [ mass noun ] the simultaneous cultivation or exploitation of several crops or kinds of animals.

 

polycyclic

polycyclic |ˌpɒlɪˈsʌɪklɪk, -ˈsɪk -| ▶adjective relating to or resulting from many cycles. • Chemistry (of an organic compound ) having several rings of atoms in the molecule. • Geology (of a landform or deposit ) having undergone two or more cycles of erosion and deposition.

 

polycystic

poly |cys ¦tic |ˌpɒlɪˈsɪstɪk | ▶adjective Medicine characterized by multiple cysts.

 

polycythaemia

polycythaemia |ˌpɒlɪsʌɪˈθiːmɪə |(US polycythemia ) ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine an abnormally increased concentration of haemoglobin in the blood, either through reduction of plasma volume or increase in red cell numbers. It may be a primary disease of unknown cause, or a secondary condition linked to respiratory or circulatory disorder or cancer. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from poly- ‘many ’ + -cyte ‘cell ’ + haemo- ‘blood ’ + -ia 1 .

 

polydactyly

polydactyly |ˌpɒlɪˈdaktɪli | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a condition in which a person or animal has more than five fingers or toes on one, or on each, hand or foot. DERIVATIVES polydactyl adjective & noun ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from Greek poludaktulos (from polu- ‘many ’ + daktulos ‘finger ’) + -y 3 .

 

Polydeuces

Polydeuces |ˌpɒlɪˈdjuːsiːz | another name for Pollux ( sense 1 ).

 

polydipsia

polydipsia |ˌpɒlɪˈdɪpsɪə | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine abnormally great thirst as a symptom of disease (such as diabetes ) or psychological disturbance. ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from Greek poludipsios ‘very thirsty ’, poludipsos ‘causing great thirst ’, based on dipsa ‘thirst ’.

 

polydrug

poly |drug ▶adjective relating to or denoting the use of several, typically illegal, drugs together: prolonged polydrug abuse.

 

polyelectrolyte

polyelectrolyte |ˌpɒlɪɪˈlɛktrəlʌɪt | ▶noun Chemistry a polymer which has several ionizable groups along the molecule, especially any of those used for coagulating and flocculating particles during water treatment or for making electrophoretic gels.

 

polyembryony

polyembryony |ˌpɒlɪˈɛmbrɪəni | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Biology the formation of more than one embryo from a single fertilized ovum or in a single seed. DERIVATIVES polyembryonic adjective

 

polyene

polyene |ˈpɒlijiːn | ▶noun Chemistry a hydrocarbon with several carbon –carbon double bonds, especially one having a chain of conjugated single and double bonds.

 

polyester

poly |es ¦ter |ˌpɒlɪˈɛstə | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by ester groups, used chiefly to make synthetic textile fibres. • a fabric made from polyester fibre.

 

polyethnic

poly |eth ¦nic |ˌpɒlɪˈɛθnɪk | ▶adjective belonging to, comprising, or containing many ethnic groups. DERIVATIVES polyethnicity |-ˈnɪsɪti |noun

 

polyethylene

polyethylene |ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪliːn | ▶noun another term for polythene.

 

polyethylene glycol

poly |ethyl ¦ene gly ¦col ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin made by polymerizing ethylene glycol, in particular any of a series of water-soluble oligomers and polymers used chiefly as solvents or waxes.

 

polyethylene terephthalate

polyethylene terephthalate |ˌtɛrəfˈθaleɪt |(abbrev.: PET ) ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin made by copolymerizing ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, widely used to make polyester fibres.

 

Polyfilla

Poly |filla ▶noun [ mass noun ] trademark a type of plaster used to make minor building repairs, such as filling small holes.

 

polygamous

pol ¦yg ¦am |ous |pəˈlɪgəməs | ▶adjective relating to or involving polygamy: polygamous societies. • Zoology (of an animal ) typically having more than one mate. • Botany (of a plant ) bearing some flowers with stamens only, some with pistils only, and some with both, on the same or different plants. DERIVATIVES polygamously adverb ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Greek polugamos (from polu- ‘much, often ’ + -gamos ‘marrying ’) + -ous .

 

polygamy

pol ¦yg |amy |pəˈlɪgəmi | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. • Zoology a pattern of mating in which an animal has more than one mate. • Botany the condition of bearing some flowers with stamens only, some with pistils only, and some with both, on the same or different plants. DERIVATIVES polygamist noun ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from French polygamie, via late Latin from Greek polugamia, from polugamos ‘often marrying ’.

 

polygene

poly |gene |ˈpɒlɪdʒiːn | ▶noun Genetics a gene whose individual effect on a phenotype is too small to be observed, but which can act together with others to produce observable variation. ORIGIN 1940s: back-formation from polygenic .

 

polygenesis

polygenesis |ˌpɒlɪˈdʒɛnɪsɪs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 Biology the hypothetical origination of a race or species from a number of independent stocks. Compare with polygeny. 2 the hypothetical origination of language or of a surname from a number of independent sources in different places at different times.

 

polygenetic

poly |gen ¦et ¦ic |ˌpɒlɪdʒɪˈnɛtɪk | ▶adjective relating to polygenesis; having more than one origin or source. • Geology denoting or originating from a volcano that has erupted several times. DERIVATIVES polygenetically adverb

 

polygenic

polygenic |ˌpɒlɪˈdʒɛnɪk | ▶adjective Genetics relating to or determined by polygenes. DERIVATIVES polygenically adverb ORIGIN 1940s: from Greek polugenēs ‘of many kinds ’ + -ic .

 

polygenism

polygenism |pəˈlɪdʒɪnɪz (ə )m | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the doctrine of polygeny. DERIVATIVES polygenist noun & adjective

 

polygeny

polygeny |pəˈlɪdʒ (ə )ni | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the theory (not now generally held ) that humans evolved from several independent pairs of ancestors. Compare with polygenesis.

 

polyglot

polyglot |ˈpɒlɪglɒt | ▶adjective knowing or using several languages: a polyglot career woman. • (of a book ) having the text translated into several languages. ▶noun a person who knows and is able to use several languages. DERIVATIVES polyglottal |-ˈglɒt (ə )l |adjective, polyglottic |-ˈglɒtɪk |adjective, polyglottism noun ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from French polyglotte, from Greek poluglōttos, from polu- ‘many ’ + glōtta ‘tongue ’.

 

polygon

polygon |ˈpɒlɪg (ə )n | ▶noun Geometry a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles, and typically five or more. DERIVATIVES polygonal |pəˈlɪg (ə )n (ə )l |adjective ORIGIN late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek polugōnon, neuter (used as a noun ) of polugōnos ‘many-angled ’.

 

polygon of forces

poly |gon of forces ▶noun Physics a polygon that represents by the length and direction of its sides all the forces acting on a body or point.

 

polygonum

polygonum |pəˈlɪg (ə )nəm | ▶noun a plant of a genus that includes knotgrass and knotweed, some of which are weeds and some are garden ornamentals. ●Genus Polygonum, family Polygonaceae. ORIGIN modern Latin, from Greek polu- ‘many ’ + gonu ‘knee, joint ’ (because of the swollen joints sheathed by stipules ).

 

polygraph

poly |graph |ˈpɒlɪgrɑːf | ▶noun a machine designed to detect and record changes in physiological characteristics, such as a person's pulse and breathing rates, used especially as a lie detector. • a lie-detector test carried out with a polygraph. DERIVATIVES polygraphic adjective

 

polygyne

poly |gyne ▶adjective Entomology (of a social insect ) having more than one egg-laying queen in each colony.

 

polygyny

polygyny |pəˈlɪdʒɪni | ▶noun [ mass noun ] polygamy in which a man has more than one wife. Compare with polyandry. • Zoology a pattern of mating in which a male animal has more than one female mate. DERIVATIVES polygynous |pəˈlɪdʒɪnəs |adjective ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek gunē ‘woman ’.

 

polyhedron

polyhedron |ˌpɒlɪˈhiːdrən, -ˈhɛd -| ▶noun ( pl. polyhedra |-drə | or polyhedrons ) Geometry a solid figure with many plane faces, typically more than six. DERIVATIVES polyhedral adjective, polyhedric adjective ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Greek poluedron, neuter (used as a noun ) of poluedros ‘many-sided ’.

 

polyhistor

polyhistor |ˌpɒlɪˈhɪstə | ▶noun another term for polymath. ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from Greek poluistōr ‘very learned ’, from polu- ‘much, very ’ + histōr ‘wise man ’.

 

Polyhymnia

Polyhymnia |ˌpɒlɪˈhɪmnɪə |Greek & Roman Mythology the Muse of the art of mime. ORIGIN via Latin from Greek, literally ‘she of the many hymns ’.

 

polyimide

polyimide |ˌpɒlɪˈɪmʌɪd | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by imide groups, used chiefly for heat-resistant films and coatings.

 

polymath

polymath |ˈpɒlɪmaθ | ▶noun a person of wide knowledge or learning. DERIVATIVES polymathic |pɒlɪˈmaθɪk |adjective, polymathy |pəˈlɪməθi |noun ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Greek polumathēs ‘having learned much ’, from polu- ‘much ’ + the stem of manthanein ‘learn ’.

 

polymer

polymer |ˈpɒlɪmə | ▶noun Chemistry a substance which has a molecular structure built up chiefly or completely from a large number of similar units bonded together, e.g. many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins. DERIVATIVES polymeric |-ˈmɛrɪk |adjective ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from German, from Greek polumeros ‘having many parts ’, from polu- ‘many ’ + meros ‘a share ’.

 

polymerase

polymerase |ˈpɒlɪməreɪz, pəˈlɪməreɪz | ▶noun Biochemistry an enzyme which brings about the formation of a particular polymer, especially DNA or RNA.

 

polymerase chain reaction

poly |mer ¦ase chain re |ac ¦tion ▶noun Biochemistry a method of making multiple copies of a DNA sequence, involving repeated reactions with a polymerase.

 

polymerize

polymerize |ˈpɒlɪmərʌɪz |(also polymerise ) ▶verb Chemistry combine or cause to combine to form a polymer. DERIVATIVES polymerizable adjective, polymerization noun

 

polymerous

polymerous |pəˈlɪm (ə )rəs | ▶adjective Biology having or consisting of many parts.

 

polymetallic

poly |met ¦al ¦lic |ˌpɒlɪmɛˈtɑlɪk | ▶adjective chiefly Geology containing or involving several metals or their ores.

 

polymethyl methacrylate

polymethyl methacrylate |pɒlɪˌmiːθʌɪl mɪˈθakrɪlət, -ˌmɛθ -, -θɪl | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a glassy synthetic resin obtained by polymerizing methyl methacrylate.

 

polymict

polymict |ˈpɒlɪmɪkt | ▶adjective Geology (of a conglomerate ) consisting of fragments of several different rock types. ORIGIN 1950s: from poly- ‘much ’ + Greek miktos ‘mixed ’.

 

polymorph

poly |morph |ˈpɒlɪmɔːf | ▶noun an organism or inorganic object or material which takes various forms. • Physiology a polymorphonuclear leucocyte. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Greek polumorphos, from polu- ‘many ’ + morphē ‘form ’.

 

polymorphism

poly |morph |ism |ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪz (ə )m | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the occurrence of something in several different forms, in particular: • Biology the occurrence of different forms among the members of a population or colony, or in the life cycle of an individual organism. • Genetics the presence of genetic variation within a population, upon which natural selection can operate. • Computing a feature of a programming language that allows routines to use variables of different types at different times. DERIVATIVES polymorphic adjective, polymorphous adjective

 

polymorphonuclear

polymorphonuclear |ˌpɒlɪˌmɔːfə (ʊ )ˈnjuːklɪə | ▶adjective Physiology (of a leucocyte ) having a nucleus with several lobes and a cytoplasm that contains granules, as in an eosinophil or basophil.

 

polymorphous perversity

poly |morph |ous per |vers ¦ity ▶noun [ mass noun ] Psychology a generalized sexual desire that can be excited and gratified in many ways, normal in young children but unusual in adults. DERIVATIVES polymorphously perverse adjective

 

polymyositis

polymyositis |ˌpɒlɪmʌɪə (ʊ )ˈsʌɪtɪs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine a condition marked by inflammation and degeneration of skeletal muscle throughout the body.

 

polymyxin

polymyxin |ˌpɒlɪˈmɪksɪn | ▶noun Medicine any of a group of polypeptide antibiotics that are active chiefly against Gram-negative bacteria. ●Polymyxins are obtained from soil bacteria of the genus Bacillus, in particular B. polymyxa. ORIGIN 1940s: from modern Latin polymyxa, from Greek polu- ‘much ’ + muxa ‘slime ’ + -in 1 .

 

Polynesia

Polynesia |ˌpɒlɪˈniːʒə, -ˈniːzɪə | a region of the central Pacific, lying to the east of Micronesia and Melanesia and containing the easternmost of the three great groups of Pacific islands, including Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia. ORIGIN from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek nēsos ‘island ’.

 

Polynesian

Poly |nes ¦ian |pɒlɪˈniːʒən, -ˈniːzɪən | ▶adjective relating to Polynesia, its people, or their languages. ▶noun 1 a native or inhabitant of Polynesia, or a person of Polynesian descent. 2 [ mass noun ] a group of Austronesian languages spoken in Polynesia, including Maori, Hawaiian, and Samoan.

 

polyneuritis

polyneuritis |ˌpɒlɪnjʊəˈrʌɪtɪs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine any disorder that affects the peripheral nerves collectively. DERIVATIVES polyneuritic |-ˈrɪtɪk |adjective

 

polyneuropathy

polyneuropathy |ˌpɒlɪnjʊəˈrɒpəθi | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine a general degeneration of peripheral nerves that spreads towards the centre of the body.

 

polynomial

polynomial |ˌpɒlɪˈnəʊmɪəl | ▶adjective consisting of several terms. ▶noun Mathematics an expression of more than two algebraic terms, especially the sum of several terms that contain different powers of the same variable (s ). • Biology a Latin name with more than two parts. ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’, on the pattern of multinomial .

 

polynomial time

poly |no ¦mial time ▶noun [ mass noun ] Computing the time required for a computer to solve a problem, where this time is a simple polynomial function of the size of the input.

 

polynosic

pol y nos ic |ˌpäliˈnäsik ˌpɑlɪˈnɑsɪk | ▶noun a long-fiber rayon-and-polyester blend with a soft finish, used mainly in clothing.

 

polynuclear

poly |nuclear |ˌpɒlɪˈnjuːklɪə | ▶adjective Chemistry (of a complex ) containing more than one metal atom. • (of a compound ) polycyclic.

 

polynucleotide

poly |nucleo |tide |pɒlɪˈnjuːklɪətʌɪd | ▶noun Biochemistry a linear polymer whose molecule is composed of many nucleotide units, constituting a section of a nucleic acid molecule.

 

polynya

polynya |pə (ʊ )ˈlɪnjə | ▶noun a stretch of open water surrounded by ice, especially in Arctic seas. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from Russian, from the base of pole ‘field ’.

 

polyoma virus

polyoma virus |ˌpɒlɪˈəʊmə | ▶noun Medicine any of a group of papovaviruses that are usually endemic in their host species without causing disease but which can cause tumours when injected into other species.

 

polyp

polyp |ˈpɒlɪp | ▶noun 1 Zoology a solitary or colonial sedentary form of a coelenterate such as a sea anemone, typically having a columnar body with the mouth uppermost surrounded by a ring of tentacles. In some species, polyps are a phase in the life cycle which alternates with a medusoid phase. Compare with medusa. 2 Medicine a small growth, usually benign and with a stalk, protruding from a mucous membrane. DERIVATIVES polypous adjective polyp ( sense 2 ) ORIGIN late Middle English (in sense 2 ): from Old French polipe, from Latin polypus (see polypus ). Sense 1 dates from the mid 18th cent.

 

polypary

polypary |ˈpɒlɪp (ə )ri | ▶noun ( pl. polyparies ) Zoology the common stem or skeletal support of a colony of polyps, to which the individual zooids are attached. ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin polyparium, from Latin polypus (see polypus ).

 

polypeptide

poly |pep ¦tide |ˌpɒlɪˈpɛptʌɪd | ▶noun Biochemistry a linear organic polymer consisting of a large number of amino-acid residues bonded together in a chain, forming part of (or the whole of ) a protein molecule. ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + peptone + -ide .

 

polyphagous

polyphagous |pəˈlɪfəgəs | ▶adjective Zoology (of an animal ) able to feed on various kinds of food. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Greek poluphagos ‘eating to excess ’ + -ous .

 

polypharmacy

pol y phar ma cy |ˌpälēˈfärməsē ˌpɑliˈfɑrməsi | ▶noun ( pl. polypharmacies ) the simultaneous use of multiple drugs to treat a single ailment or condition. • the simultaneous use of multiple drugs by a single patient, for one or more conditions.

 

polyphase

poly |phase |ˈpɒlɪfeɪz | ▶adjective consisting of or occurring in a number of separate stages. • (of an electrical device ) simultaneously using several alternating currents of the same voltage and frequency but with different phases. DERIVATIVES polyphasic adjective

 

Polyphemus

Polyphemus |ˌpɒlɪˈfiːməs |Greek Mythology a Cyclops who trapped Odysseus and some of his companions in a cave, from which they escaped by putting out his one eye while he slept. In another story Polyphemus loved the sea nymph Galatea, and in jealousy killed his rival Acis.

 

polyphenol

polyphenol |ˌpɒlɪˈfiːnɒl | ▶noun Chemistry a compound containing more than one phenolic hydroxyl group. DERIVATIVES polyphenolic adjective

 

polyphonic

poly |phon ¦ic |pɒlɪˈfɒnɪk | ▶adjective producing or involving many sounds or voices. • Music (especially of vocal music ) in two or more parts each having a melody of its own; contrapuntal. Compare with homophonic. • Music (of an instrument ) capable of producing more than one note at a time. DERIVATIVES polyphonically adverb ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from Greek poluphōnos (from polu- ‘many ’ + phōnē ‘voice, sound ’) + -ic .

 

polyphony

polyphony |pəˈlɪf (ə )ni | ▶noun ( pl. polyphonies ) [ mass noun ] Music the style of simultaneously combining a number of parts, each forming an individual melody and harmonizing with each other. • [ count noun ] a composition written, played, or sung in polyphony. • the ability of an electronic keyboard or synthesizer to play a number of notes simultaneously. DERIVATIVES polyphonist noun, polyphonous adjective ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Greek poluphōnia, from polu- ‘many ’ + phōnē ‘sound ’.

 

polyphosphate

polyphosphate |ˌpɒlɪˈfɒsfeɪt | ▶noun Chemistry a salt or ester of an oxyacid with two or more phosphorus atoms in its anion, especially any of a number used chiefly as detergents or food additives.

 

polyphyletic

polyphyletic |ˌpɒlɪfʌɪˈlɛtɪk | ▶adjective Biology (of a group of organisms ) derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group and therefore not suitable for placing in the same taxon.

 

polypi

polypi |ˈpɒlɪpʌɪ | plural form of polypus.

 

polypill

pol y pill |ˈpälēˌpil ˈpɑlipɪl | ▶noun a pill containing a number of medicines that all treat the same condition.

 

polyploid

polyploid |ˈpɒlɪplɔɪd |Biology ▶adjective of or denoting cells or nuclei containing more than two homologous sets of chromosomes. ▶noun a polyploid organism, variety, or species. DERIVATIVES polyploidy noun

 

polypod

poly |pod |ˈpɒlɪpɒd | ▶adjective Zoology having many feet or foot-like appendages, especially denoting a phase of insect larval development characterized by a segmented abdomen with rudimentary or functional appendages. ORIGIN mid 18th cent. (as a noun denoting an animal having many feet ): from French polypode ‘many-footed ’, from Greek polupous, polupod-, from polu- ‘many ’ + pous, pod- ‘foot ’.

 

polypody

polypody |ˈpɒlɪpəʊdi | ▶noun ( pl. polypodies ) a widely distributed fern which has stout scaly creeping rhizomes and remains green during the winter, growing on trees, walls, and stones, especially in limestone areas. ●Genus Polypodium, family Polypodiaceae: several species, in particular the common polypody (P. vulgare ). ORIGIN late Middle English: via Latin from Greek polupodion, denoting a kind of fern, from polu- ‘many ’ + pous, pod- ‘foot ’.

 

polypoid

polypoid |ˈpɒlɪpɔɪd | ▶adjective 1 Zoology relating to or resembling a polyp or hydra. • relating to or denoting the polyp stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate. Also called hydroid. Compare with medusoid. 2 Medicine (of a growth ) resembling or in the form of a polyp.

 

polypore

polypore |ˈpɒlɪpɔː | ▶noun a bracket fungus in which the spores are expelled through fine pores on the underside. ●Several families in the order Aphyllophorales, class Hymenomycetes, in particular Polyporaceae, which includes the beech polypore (Piptoporus (formerly Polyporus ) betulinus ).

 

polyposis

polyposis |ˌpɒlɪˈpəʊsɪs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine a condition characterized by the presence of numerous internal polyps, especially a hereditary disease (familial adenomatous polyposis ) which affects the colon and in which the polyps may become malignant.

 

polypropylene

polypropylene |ˌpɒlɪˈprəʊpɪliːn | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin which is a polymer of propylene, used chiefly for films, fibres, or moulding materials.

 

polyptych

polyptych |ˈpɒlɪptɪk | ▶noun a painting, typically an altarpiece, consisting of more than three leaves or panels joined by hinges or folds. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from late Latin polyptycha (neuter plural ) ‘registers ’, from Greek poluptukhos ‘having many folds ’, from polu- ‘many ’ + ptukhē ‘fold ’.

 

polypus

polypus |ˈpɒlɪpəs | ▶noun ( pl. polypi |-pʌɪ | ) archaic or technical term for polyp. ORIGIN late Middle English: via Latin from a variant of Greek polupous ‘cuttlefish, polyp ’, from polu- ‘many ’ + pous, pod- ‘foot ’.

 

polyrhythm

poly |rhythm |ˈpɒlɪrɪð (ə )m | ▶noun Music a rhythm which makes use of two or more different rhythms simultaneously. DERIVATIVES polyrhythmic adjective

 

polyribosome

polyribosome |ˌpɒlɪˈrʌɪbəsəʊm | ▶noun another term for polysome.

 

polysaccharide

poly |sac ¦char |ide |ˌpɒlɪˈsakərʌɪd | ▶noun Biochemistry a carbohydrate (e.g. starch, cellulose, or glycogen ) whose molecules consist of a number of sugar molecules bonded together.

 

polysemy

polysemy |ˈpɒlɪsiːmi, pəˈlɪsɪmi | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Linguistics the coexistence of many possible meanings for a word or phrase. DERIVATIVES polysemic |-ˈsiːmɪk |adjective, polysemous |-ˈsiːməs |adjective ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek sēma ‘sign ’.

 

polysexual

polysexual |pɒlɪˈsɛksjʊəl, -ʃʊəl | ▶adjective incorporating many different kinds of sexuality; pansexual.

 

polysome

polysome |ˈpɒlɪsəʊm | ▶noun Biology a cluster of ribosomes held together by a strand of messenger RNA which each is translating.

 

polystyrene

polystyrene |ˌpɒlɪˈstʌɪriːn | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin which is a polymer of styrene, used chiefly as lightweight rigid foams and films.

 

polysulphide

polysulphide |ˌpɒlɪˈsʌlfʌɪd |(US polysulfide ) ▶noun Chemistry a compound containing two or more sulphur atoms bonded together as an anion or group. • a synthetic rubber or other polymer in which the units are linked through such groups.

 

polysyllabic

poly |syl ¦lab ¦ic |ˌpɒlɪsɪˈlabɪk | ▶adjective (of a word ) having more than one syllable. • using or characterized by words of many syllables: polysyllabic jargon. DERIVATIVES polysyllabically adverb

 

polysyllable

poly |syl ¦lable |ˈpɒlɪsɪləb (ə )l | ▶noun a polysyllabic word.

 

polysymptomatic

poly |symp ¦tom |at ¦ic |ˌpɒlɪsɪmptəˈmatɪk | ▶adjective (of a disease condition or a person or animal ) involving or exhibiting many symptoms.

 

polysynthetic

poly |syn ¦thet ¦ic |ˌpɒlɪsɪnˈθɛtɪk | ▶adjective denoting or relating to a language characterized by complex words consisting of several morphemes, in which a single word may function as a whole sentence. Many American Indian languages are polysynthetic.

 

polytechnic

poly |tech ¦nic |ˌpɒlɪˈtɛknɪk | ▶noun an institution of higher education offering courses at degree level or below, especially in vocational subjects. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from French polytechnique, from Greek polutekhnos, from polu- ‘many ’ + tekhnē ‘art ’. usage: In Britain the term polytechnic has largely dropped out of use. In 1989 British polytechnics gained autonomy from local education authorities and in 1992 were able to call themselves universities.

 

polytene

polytene |ˈpɒlɪtiːn | ▶adjective Genetics relating to or denoting a giant chromosome which is composed of many parallel copies of the genetic material, as found in Drosophila fruit flies where they are much used in genetic research. ORIGIN 1930s: from poly- ‘many ’ + -tene (from Greek tainia ‘band, ribbon ’) denoting stages of the first meiotic division.

 

polytetrafluoroethylene

polytetrafluoroethylene |ˌpɒlɪˌtɛtrəˌflʊərəʊˈɛθɪliːn, -ˌflɔː -| ▶noun [ mass noun ] another term for Teflon.

 

polytheism

polytheism |ˈpɒlɪˌθiːɪz (ə )m | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the belief in or worship of more than one god. DERIVATIVES polytheist noun, polytheistic |-ˈɪstɪk |adjective ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from French polythéisme, from Greek polutheos ‘of many gods ’, from polu- ‘many ’ + theos ‘god ’.

 

polythene

poly |thene |ˈpɒlɪθiːn | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Brit. a tough, light flexible synthetic resin made by polymerizing ethylene, chiefly used for plastic bags, food containers, and other packaging. ORIGIN 1930s: contraction of polyethylene .

 

polythetic

polythetic |ˌpɒlɪˈθɛtɪk | ▶adjective relating to or sharing a number of characteristics which occur commonly in members of a group or class, but none of which is essential for membership of that group or class. ORIGIN 1960s: from poly- ‘many ’ + Greek thetos ‘placed, arranged ’ + -ic .

 

polytonality

poly |ton ¦al |ity |ˌpɒlɪtə (ʊ )ˈnalɪti | ▶noun [ mass noun ] the simultaneous use of two or more keys in a musical composition. DERIVATIVES polytonal |-ˈtəʊn (ə )l |adjective

 

polytunnel

poly |tunnel |ˈpɒlitʌnl | ▶noun an elongated polythene-covered frame under which seedlings or other plants are grown outdoors.

 

polytype

poly |type |ˈpɒlɪtʌɪp | ▶noun Crystallography any of a number of forms of a crystalline substance which differ only in one of the dimensions of the unit cell. DERIVATIVES polytypic |pɒlɪˈtɪpɪk |adjective, polytypism noun

 

polyunsaturated

poly |un ¦sat ¦ur |ated |ˌpɒlɪʌnˈsatʃʊreɪtɪd, -ˈsatjʊreɪtɪd | ▶adjective Chemistry (of an organic compound, especially a fat or oil molecule ) containing several double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.

 

polyunsaturates

poly |un ¦sat ¦ur |ates |ˌpɒlɪʌnˈsatʃʊreɪts, -ˈsatjʊreɪts | ▶plural noun polyunsaturated fats or fatty acids.

 

polyurethane

polyurethane |ˌpɒlɪˈjʊərɪθeɪn | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as constituents of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and foams. ▶verb [ with obj. ] (usu. as adj. polyurethaned ) coat with polyurethane paint or varnish.

 

polyuria

polyuria |ˌpɒlɪˈjʊərɪə | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Medicine production of abnormally large volumes of dilute urine. Compare with diuresis. DERIVATIVES polyuric adjective

 

polyvalent

polyvalent |ˌpɒlɪˈveɪl (ə )nt | ▶adjective 1 Chemistry having a valency of three or more. 2 Medicine active against several toxins or strains of pathogen. 3 having many different functions, forms, or facets: the polyvalent character of his thought. DERIVATIVES polyvalence noun

 

polyvinyl

polyvinyl |ˌpɒlɪˈvʌɪn (ə )l | ▶adjective denoting materials or objects made from polymers of vinyl compounds.

 

polyvinyl acetate

polyvinyl acetate |pɒlɪˈvʌɪnɪl |(abbrev.: PVA ) ▶noun [ mass noun ] a synthetic resin made by polymerizing vinyl acetate, used chiefly in paints and adhesives.

 

polyvinyl chloride

polyvinyl chloride |pɒlɪˈvʌɪnɪl |(abbrev.: PVC ) ▶noun [ mass noun ] a tough chemically resistant synthetic resin made by polymerizing vinyl chloride and used for a wide variety of products including pipes, flooring, and sheeting.

 

polyvinylpyrrolidone

polyvinylpyrrolidone |ˌpɒlɪˌvʌɪn (ə )lpɪˈrɒlɪdəʊn | ▶noun [ mass noun ] Chemistry a water-soluble polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone, used as a synthetic blood plasma substitute and in the cosmetic, drug, and food-processing industries.

 

polywater

pol y wa ter |ˈpäliˌwôtər, -ˌwätər ˈpɑliwɔdər | ▶noun historical a supposed polymeric form of water markedly different from ordinary water, claimed as a new discovery in the early 1970s. The claim was later retracted when its properties were found to be the result of impurities.

 

Polyzoa

Polyzoa |ˌpɒlɪˈzəʊə | ▶plural noun Zoology another term for Bryozoa. DERIVATIVES polyzoan noun & adjective ORIGIN modern Latin (plural ), from poly- ‘many ’ + zōion ‘animal ’.

 

Duden Dictionary

poly-

po ly-, Po ly- Präfix Poly- griechisch polýs bedeutet in Bildungen mit Adjektiven oder Substantiven viel, mehr, verschieden polyfunktional, polyglott | Polytheismus

 

Polyacryl

Po ly ac ryl, Po ly acryl Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyacr y l |leichte, weiche Synthesefaser

 

Polyacrylat

Po ly ac ry lat , Po ly acry lat Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyacryl a t |das Polyacrylat; Genitiv: des Polyacrylat [e ]s, Plural: die Polyacrylate Kunststoff aus Acrylsäure

 

Polyacrylnitril

Po ly ac ryl ni t ril, Po ly acryl ni tril Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyacr y lnitril |das Polyacrylnitril; Genitiv: des Polyacrylnitrils Kunstwort polymerisiertes Acrylsäurenitril, das Ausgangsstoff wichtiger Kunstfasern ist

 

Polyaddition

Po ly ad di ti on Substantiv, feminin Chemie , die |Polyadditi o n |die Polyaddition; Genitiv: der Polyaddition, Plural: die Polyadditionen chemisches Verfahren zur Herstellung hochmolekularer Kunststoffe

 

Polyaddukt

Po ly ad dukt Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie , das |Polyadd u kt |das Polyaddukt; Genitiv: des Polyaddukt [e ]s, Plural: die Polyaddukte griechisch ; lateinisch durch Polyaddition entstandener hochmolekularer Kunststoff

 

Polyamid

Po ly amid Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie, Technik , das |Polyam i d |das Polyamid; Genitiv: des Polyamid [e ]s, Plural: die Polyamide hochmolekularer, im Allgemeinen farbloser, bei höheren Temperaturen verformbarer Kunststoff, der besonders für die Herstellung von Kunstfasern verwendet wird

 

Polyämie

Po ly ämie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyäm ie |die Polyämie; Genitiv: der Polyämie, Plural: die Polyämien griechisch-neulateinisch krankhafte Vermehrung der zirkulierenden Blutmenge

 

Polyandrie

Po ly an d rie , Po ly an drie Substantiv, feminin Völkerkunde , die |Polyandr ie |griechisch polyandría, zu: polyandreĩn = viele Männer haben, zu: anḗr (Genitiv: andrós ) = Mann vereinzelt bei Naturvölkern vorkommende Form der Polygamie, bei der eine Frau gleichzeitig mit mehreren Männern verheiratet ist; Vielmännerei

 

polyandrisch

po ly an d risch, po ly an drisch Adjektiv |poly a ndrisch |die Vielmännerei betreffend

 

Polyantharose

Po ly an tha ro se Substantiv, feminin Botanik , die |Poly a ntharose |die Polyantharose; Genitiv: der Polyantharose, Plural: die Polyantharosen zu griechisch polyanthḗs = vielblütig, zu: ánthos = Blüte meist als Busch wachsende Rose von niedrigem Wuchs, die zahlreiche Blüten an einem Stängel trägt

 

Polyarchie

Po ly ar chie Substantiv, feminin selten , die |Polyarch ie |die Polyarchie; Genitiv: der Polyarchie, Plural: die Polyarchien Herrschaft mehrerer in einem Staat, im Unterschied zur Monarchie

 

Polyarthritis

Po ly ar th ri tis , Po ly ar thri tis Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyarthr i tis |an mehreren Gelenken gleichzeitig auftretende Arthritis

 

Polyase

Po ly a se Substantiv, feminin , die |Poly a se |die Polyase; Genitiv: der Polyase, Plural: die Polyasen hochmolekulares, Kohlenhydrate spaltendes Enzym

 

Polyästhesie

Po ly äs the sie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyästhes ie |die Polyästhesie; Genitiv: der Polyästhesie, Plural: die Polyästhesien subjektive Wahrnehmung einer Hautreizung an mehreren Stellen

 

Polyäthylen

Po ly äthy len Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie, Technik , das Polyethylen |Polyäthyl e n |das Polyäthylen; Genitiv: des Polyäthylens, Plural: die Polyäthylene (durch Polymerisation von Äthylen hergestellter ) hochmolekularer, chemisch kaum angreifbarer, formbarer, aber fast unzerbrechlicher Kunststoff

 

Polybios

Po ly bi os Eigenname Polybius |Pol y bios |griechischer Geschichtsschreiber

 

Polybius

Po ly bi us Eigenname Polybios |Pol y bius |griechischer Geschichtsschreiber

 

Polychäten

Po ly chä ten Pluralwort , die |Polych ä ten |die Polychäten (Plural ) im Meer lebende Borstenwürmer z. B. Palolowurm

 

Polychord

Po ly chord Substantiv, Neutrum Musik , das |Polych o rd …k …|das Polychord; Genitiv: des Polychord [e ]s, Plural: die Polychorde zu griechisch polýchordos = vielsaitig, zu: chordḗ = Saite 10 -saitiges Streichinstrument in Kontrabassform mit beweglichem Griffbrett

 

polychrom

po ly chrom Adjektiv bildende Kunst, Fotografie, Malerei |polychr o m |zu griechisch chrõma = Farbe vielfarbig, bunt eine polychrome Aufnahme

 

Polychromie

Po ly chro mie Substantiv, feminin bildende Kunst, Fotografie, Malerei , die |Polychrom ie |1 ohne Plural mehrfarbige Gestaltung mit kräftig voneinander abgesetzten Farbflächen ohne einheitlichen Grundton; Vielfarbigkeit (z. B. bei Keramiken )2 Werk in Polychromie 1

 

polychromieren

po ly chro mie ren schwaches Verb Malerei, bildende Kunst |polychrom ie ren |polychrom ausstatten z. B. Statuen, Gewölbe

 

Polydaktylie

Po ly dak ty lie Substantiv, feminin Biologie, Medizin , die |Polydaktyl ie |die Polydaktylie; Genitiv: der Polydaktylie, Plural: die Polydaktylien angeborene Fehlbildung der Hand oder des Fußes mit Bildung überzähliger Finger oder Zehen

 

Polydämonismus

Po ly dä mo nis mus Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polydämon i smus |der Polydämonismus; Genitiv: des Polydämonismus Glaube an eine Vielheit von [nicht persönlich ausgeprägten ] Geistern als Vorstufe des Polytheismus

 

Polydeukes

Po ly deu kes Eigenname |Polyd eu kes |griechischer Name des Pollux

 

Polydipsie

Po ly dip sie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polydips ie |die Polydipsie; Genitiv: der Polydipsie krankhaft gesteigerter Durst; vgl. Oligodipsie

 

Polyeder

Po ly eder Substantiv, Neutrum Mathematik , das |Poly e der |zu (spät )griechisch polýedros = vielflächig, zu griechisch hédra = Fläche von mehreren ebenen Flächen, von Vielecken begrenzter Körper; Vielflächner der Würfel ist ein regelmäßiges Polyeder

 

Polyederkrankheit

Po ly eder krank heit Substantiv, feminin , die |Poly e derkrankheit |den Seidenspinner befallende tödliche Viruskrankheit

 

polyedrisch

po ly ed risch, po ly edrisch Adjektiv Mathematik |poly e drisch |die Form eines Polyeders habend ein polyedrischer Körper

 

Polyembryonie

Po ly em b ry o nie , Po ly em bry o nie Substantiv, feminin Biologie , die |Polyembryon ie |die Polyembryonie; Genitiv: der Polyembryonie, Plural: die Polyembryonien griechisch-neulateinisch Bildung mehrerer Embryonen aus einer pflanzlichen Samenanlage oder einer tierischen Keimanlage z. B. bei Moostierchen

 

Polyester

Po ly es ter Substantiv, maskulin Chemie, Technik , der |Poly e ster |der Polyester; Genitiv: des Polyesters, Plural: die Polyester (aus Säuren und Alkoholen gebildeter ) hochmolekularer Stoff, der als wichtiger Rohstoff zur Herstellung von Kunstfasern, Harzen, Lacken o. Ä. dient

 

Polyethylen

Po ly ethy len Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie, Technik , das Polyäthylen |Polyethyl e n |(durch Polymerisation von Äthylen hergestellter ) hochmolekularer, chemisch kaum angreifbarer, formbarer, aber fast unzerbrechlicher Kunststoff

 

Polyethylenterephthalat

Po ly ethy len te reph tha lat Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyethyl e nterephthalat |das Polyethylenterephthalat; Genitiv: des Polyethylenterephthalats, Plural: die Polyethylenterephthalate glasklarer, fester Kunststoff aus der Gruppe der Polyester, der v. a. für Flaschen und Folien verwendet wird Abkürzung: PET

 

polyfon

po ly fon , po ly phon Adjektiv Musik polyphon |polyf o n polyph o n |griechisch polýphōnos = vielstimmig, zu: polýs (poly-, Poly- ) und phōnḗ, Fon die Polyfonie betreffend, zu ihr gehörend; in der Kompositionsart der Polyfonie komponiert; mehrstimmig polyfone Musik

 

Polyfonie

Po ly fo nie , Po ly pho nie Substantiv, feminin Musik , die Polyphonie |Polyfon ie Polyphon ie |die Polyfonie; Genitiv: der Polyfonie, Plural: die Polyfonien die Polyphonie; Genitiv: der Polyphonie, Plural: die Polyphonien griechisch polyphōnía = Vieltönigkeit, Vielstimmigkeit Kompositionsweise, -technik, bei der die verschiedenen Stimmen selbstständig linear geführt werden und die melodische Eigenständigkeit der Stimmen Vorrang vor der harmonischen Bindung hat

 

Polyfoniker

Po ly fo ni ker, Po ly pho ni ker Substantiv, maskulin , der Polyphoniker |Polyf o niker Polyph o niker |der Polyfoniker; Genitiv: des Polyfonikers, Plural: die Polyfoniker der Polyphoniker; Genitiv: des Polyphonikers, Plural: die Polyphoniker Komponist der polyfonen Satzweise

 

Polyfonikerin

Po ly fo ni ke rin , Po ly pho ni ke rin Substantiv, feminin , die Polyphonikerin |Polyf o nikerin Polyph o nikerin |die Polyfonikerin; Genitiv: der Polyfonikerin, Plural: die Polyfonikerinnen die Polyphonikerin; Genitiv: der Polyphonikerin, Plural: die Polyphonikerinnen weibliche Form zu Polyfoniker

 

polyfunktional

po ly funk ti o nal Adjektiv |polyfunktion a l |verschiedene, mehrere Funktionen habend; auf verschiedene, in mehrfacher Weise funktionierend

 

Polygala

Po ly ga la Substantiv, feminin , die |Pol y gala |die Polygala; Genitiv: der Polygala, Plural: die Polygalas Kreuzblumengewächs

 

Polygalaktie

Po ly ga lak tie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polygalakt ie |die Polygalaktie; Genitiv: der Polygalaktie übermäßige Milchabsonderung während des Stillens

 

polygam

po ly gam Adjektiv |polyg a m |zu griechisch gámos = Ehe 1 a (von Tieren und Menschen ) von der Anlage her auf mehrere Geschlechtspartner bezogen polygame Vögel b Völkerkunde die Mehrehe, die Vielehe kennend; in Mehrehe, in Vielehe lebend polygame Völker c selten mit mehreren Partnern geschlechtlich verkehrend sie wohnen zusammen, leben aber beide polygam 2 Botanik (von bestimmten Pflanzen ) sowohl zwittrige als auch eingeschlechtige Blüten gleichzeitig tragend

 

Polygamie

Po ly ga mie Substantiv, feminin , die |Polygam ie |die Polygamie; Genitiv: der Polygamie 1 a besonders Völkerkunde Ehe mit mehreren Partnern; Mehrehe, Vielehe b Zusammenleben, geschlechtlicher Verkehr mit mehreren Partnern 2 Botanik Auftreten von zwittrigen und eingeschlechtigen Blüten gleichzeitig auf einer Pflanze

 

Polygamist

Po ly ga mist Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polygam i st |griechisch-neulateinisch in Vielehe lebender Mann

 

Polygamistin

Po ly ga mis tin Substantiv, feminin , die |Polygam i stin |in Vielehe lebende Frau

 

polygen

po ly gen Adjektiv |polyg e n | -gen 1 Biologie (von einem Erbvorgang ) durch das Zusammenwirken mehrerer Gene bestimmt 2 besonders Fachsprache vielfachen Ursprung habend, durch mehrfachen Ursprung hervorgerufen

 

Polygenese

Po ly ge ne se Substantiv, feminin , die Polygenesis |Polygen e se |die Polygenese; Genitiv: der Polygenese biologische Theorie von der stammesgeschichtlichen Herleitung jeder gegebenen Gruppe von Lebewesen aus jeweils mehreren Stammformen; Gegensatz Monogenese 1

 

Polygenesis

Po ly ge ne sis Substantiv, feminin , die Polygenese |Polyg e nesis |die Polygenesis; Genitiv: der Polygenesis biologische Theorie von der stammesgeschichtlichen Herleitung jeder gegebenen Gruppe von Lebewesen aus jeweils mehreren Stammformen; Gegensatz Monogenese 1

 

Polygenie

Po ly ge nie Substantiv, feminin Biologie , die |Polygen ie |die Polygenie; Genitiv: der Polygenie, Plural: die Polygenien die Erscheinung, dass an der Ausbildung eines Merkmals eines Phänotypus mehrere Gene beteiligt sind; Gegensatz Monogenie 2

 

Polygenismus

Po ly ge nis mus Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polygen i smus |der Polygenismus; Genitiv: des Polygenismus 1 Polygenese 2 von der katholischen Kirche verworfene Lehre, nach der die Menschheit nicht auf einen Stammesvater (Adam ), sondern mehrere zurückgeht; Gegensatz Monogenismus 2

 

Polyglobulie

Po ly glo bu lie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyglobul ie |die Polyglobulie; Genitiv: der Polyglobulie griechisch ; lateinisch-neulateinisch 1 krankhafte Vermehrung der roten Blutkörperchen (z. B. bei längerem Aufenthalt in Höhenluft ); Erythrozytose 2 Polyzythämie

 

polyglott

po ly glott Adjektiv bildungssprachlich |polygl o tt |griechisch polýglōttos, zu: glõtta, glõssa = Zunge, Sprache 1 in mehreren Sprachen abgefasst; mehrsprachig a , vielsprachig eine polyglotte Ausgabe der Bibel 2 mehrere, viele Sprachen beherrschend, sprechend

 

Polyglotte

Po ly glot te substantiviertes Adjektiv, feminin bildungssprachlich |Polygl o tte |die /eine Polyglotte; der /einer Polyglotten, die Polyglotten /zwei Polyglotte weibliche Person, die mehrere, viele Sprachen beherrscht

 

Polyglotte

Po ly glot te Substantiv, feminin , die |Polygl o tte |1 veraltet mehrsprachiges Wörterbuch 2 Buch (besonders Bibel ) mit Textfassung in verschiedenen Sprachen

 

Polyglottenbibel

Po ly glot ten bi bel Substantiv, feminin , die |Polygl o ttenbibel |polyglotte Bibelausgabe

 

Polyglotter

Po ly glot ter substantiviertes Adjektiv, maskulin bildungssprachlich |Polygl o tter |der Polyglotte /ein Polyglotter; des /eines Polyglotten, die Polyglotten /zwei Polyglotte jemand, der mehrere, viele Sprachen beherrscht

 

Polygon

Po ly gon Substantiv, Neutrum Mathematik , das |Polyg o n |das Polygon; Genitiv: des Polygons, Plural: die Polygone griechisch polýgōnon, zu: gōnía = Ecke, Winkel Vieleck

 

polygonal

po ly go nal Adjektiv Mathematik |polygon a l |ein Polygon darstellend; vieleckig

 

Polygonausbau

Po ly gon aus bau Substantiv, maskulin Bergmannssprache , der |Polyg o nausbau |

 

Polygonboden

Po ly gon bo den Substantiv, maskulin Geologie , der |Polyg o nboden |durch wechselndes Frieren und Auftauen verursachte Sortierung der Bestandteile eines Bodens, die ein Muster hervorruft

 

Polygonum

Po ly go num Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Pol y gonum |Knöterich verbreitete Unkraut- und Heilpflanze

 

Polygraf

Po ly graf , Po ly graph Substantiv, maskulin , der Polygraph |Polygr a f Polygr a ph |der Polygraf; Genitiv: des Polygrafen, Plural: die Polygrafen der Polygraph; Genitiv: des Polygraphen, Plural: die Polygraphen zu griechisch polygráphein = viel schreiben 1 a Gerät zur gleichzeitigen Registrierung mehrerer physiologischer Vorgänge und Erscheinungen b Lügendetektor 2 regional Angehöriger des grafischen Gewerbes

 

Polygrafie

Po ly gra fie , Po ly gra phie Substantiv, feminin , die Polygraphie |Polygraf ie Polygraph ie |die Polygrafie; Genitiv: der Polygrafie, Plural: die Polygrafien die Polygraphie; Genitiv: der Polygraphie, Plural: die Polygraphien griechisch polygraphía = Vielschreiberei 1 a Untersuchungsmethode in der Medizin (besonders in der Schlafmedizin ), bei der man sich eines Polygrafen 1a bedient b Einsatz des Polygrafen 1b 2 regional alle Zweige des grafischen Gewerbes umfassendes Gebiet

 

Polygrafin

Po ly gra fin , Po ly gra phin Substantiv, feminin , die Polygraphin |Polygr a fin Polygr a phin |die Polygrafin; Genitiv: der Polygrafin, Plural: die Polygrafinnen die Polygraphin; Genitiv: der Polygraphin, Plural: die Polygraphinnen weibliche Form zu Polygraf 2

 

polygrafisch

po ly gra fisch , po ly gra phisch Adjektiv polygraphisch |polygr a fisch polygr a phisch |die Polygrafie betreffend

 

Polygramm

Po ly gramm Substantiv, Neutrum Mathematik , das |Polygr a mm |das Polygramm; Genitiv: des Polygramms, Plural: die Polygramme Figur, die durch viele Seiten begrenzt ist

 

polygyn

po ly gyn Adjektiv |polyg y n |griechisch die Polygynie betreffend; in Vielweiberei lebend

 

Polygynie

Po ly gy nie Substantiv, feminin Völkerkunde , die |Polygyn ie |Polygamie, bei der ein Mann gleichzeitig mit mehreren Frauen verheiratet ist; Vielweiberei

 

Polyhalit

Po ly ha lit Substantiv, maskulin Chemie , der |Polyhal i t auch …ˈlɪt |der Polyhalit; Genitiv: des Polyhalits, Plural: die Polyhalite griechisch-neulateinisch fettig glänzendes, weißes, graues, gelbes oder rotes Mineral, komplexes Kalimagnesiumsalz, das als Düngemittel verwendet wird

 

polyhybrid

po ly hy b rid , po ly hy brid Adjektiv Biologie |polyhybr i d |griechisch ; lateinisch von Eltern abstammend, die sich in mehreren Merkmalen unterscheiden (von tierischen oder pflanzlichen Kreuzungsprodukten ); Gegensatz monohybrid

 

Polyhybride

Po ly hy b ri de , Po ly hy bri de Substantiv, maskulin oder Substantiv, feminin Biologie , der oder die |Polyhybr i de |die Polyhybride; Genitiv: der Polyhybride, Plural: die Polyhybriden, auch: der Polyhybride; Genitiv: des Polyhybriden, Plural: die Polyhybriden Nachkomme von Eltern, die sich in mehreren Erbmerkmalen unterscheiden; Gegensatz Monohybride

 

Polyhymnia

Po ly hym nia Eigenname griechische Mythologie Polymnia |Polyh y mnia |Muse des ernsten Gesanges

 

Polyideismus

Po ly ide is mus Substantiv, maskulin Psychologie , der |Polyide i smus |der Polyideismus; Genitiv: des Polyideismus griechisch-neulateinisch Vielfalt der Gedanken, Ideenfülle; Horizontbreite des Bewusstseins; Gegensatz Monoideismus 1

 

polykarp

po ly karp Adjektiv Botanik polykarpisch |polyk a rp |in einem bestimmten Zeitraum mehrmals Blüten und Früchte ausbildend von bestimmten Pflanzen

 

Polykarp

Po ly karp Eigenname |Polyk a rp |ein Heiliger

 

polykarpisch

po ly kar pisch Adjektiv Botanik polykarp |polyk a rpisch |in einem bestimmten Zeitraum mehrmals Blüten und Früchte ausbildend von bestimmten Pflanzen

 

Polykladie

Po ly kla die Substantiv, feminin Botanik , die |Polyklad ie |nach Verletzung einer Pflanze entstehende Seitensprosse

 

Polyklet

Po ly k let , Po ly klet Eigenname altgriechischer Bildhauer

 

Polykondensation

Po ly kon den sa ti on Substantiv, feminin Chemie, Technik , die |Polykondensati o n |Verfahren zur Herstellung von Makromolekülen, von hochmolekularen Kunststoffen (z. B. von Polyurethanen )

 

polykondensieren

po ly kon den sie ren schwaches Verb Chemie |polykondens ie ren |den Prozess der Polykondensation bewirken; durch Polykondensation gewinnen

 

Polykorie

Po ly ko rie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polykor ie |die Polykorie; Genitiv: der Polykorie, Plural: die Polykorien angeborene abnorme Ausbildung mehrerer Pupillen in einem Auge

 

Polykrates

Po ly kra tes Eigenname |Pol y krates |ein Tyrann von Samos

 

Polylingualismus

Po ly lin gu a lis mus Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polylingual i smus |der Polylingualismus; Genitiv: des Polylingualismus Mehrsprachigkeit

 

Polymastie

Po ly mas tie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polymast ie |die Polymastie; Genitiv: der Polymastie, Plural: die Polymastien abnorme Ausbildung überzähliger Brustdrüsen bei Frauen als atavistische 1 Fehlbildung

 

Polymelie

Po ly me lie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polymel ie |die Polymelie; Genitiv: der Polymelie, Plural: die Polymelien griechisch-neulateinisch angeborene Fehlbildung, bei der bestimmte Gliedmaßen doppelt ausgebildet sind

 

Polymenorrhö

Po ly me nor rhö Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polymenorrh ö |die Polymenorrhö; Genitiv: der Polymenorrhö, Plural: die Polymenorrhöen zu häufige, nach zu kurzen Abständen eintretende Regelblutung

 

polymer

po ly mer Adjektiv |polym e r |zu griechisch méros = (An )teil 1 Chemie, Technik durch Polymerisation, durch Verknüpfung kleinerer Moleküle entstanden, aus großen Molekülen bestehend polymere Verbindungen 2 Fachsprache aus mehreren, vielen Teilen bestehend, hervorgegangen; mehr-, vielteilig; mehr-, vielgliedrig polymere Fruchtknoten

 

Polymer

Po ly mer Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie , das Polymere |Polym e r |das Polymer; Genitiv: des Polymers, Plural: die Polymere aus Makromolekülen bestehender Stoff; polymere Verbindung

 

Polymere

Po ly me re Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie , das Polymer |Polym e re |das Polymere; Genitiv: des Polymeren, Plural: die Polymeren meist im Plural aus Makromolekülen bestehender Stoff; polymere Verbindung

 

Polymerie

Po ly me rie Substantiv, feminin , die |Polymer ie |die Polymerie; Genitiv: der Polymerie, Plural: die Polymerien 1 Biologie Zusammenwirken mehrerer gleichartiger Erbfaktoren bei der Ausbildung eines erblichen Merkmals 2 Verbundensein, Zusammenschluss vieler gleicher und gleichartiger Moleküle in einer chemischen Verbindung

 

Polymerisat

Po ly me ri sat Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie, Technik , das |Polymeris a t |durch Polymerisation entstandener neuer, hochmolekularer Stoff

 

Polymerisation

Po ly me ri sa ti on Substantiv, feminin Chemie, Technik , die |Polymerisati o n |die Polymerisation; Genitiv: der Polymerisation, Plural: die Polymerisationen chemischer Vorgang, durch den ein Polymer entsteht; Herstellung eines Polymers

 

polymerisierbar

po ly me ri sier bar Adjektiv |polymeris ie rbar |sich polymerisieren lassend

 

polymerisieren

po ly me ri sie ren schwaches Verb Chemie, Technik |polymeris ie ren |schwaches Verb; Perfektbildung mit »hat « 1 in einer Polymerisation zu einem Polymer werden der Kunststoff polymerisiert und wird fest 2 zu einem Polymer machen, werden lassen einen Stoff polymerisieren | polymerisiert werden | polymerisierte Aminosäuren

 

Polymerisierung

Po ly me ri sie rung Substantiv, feminin , die |Polymeris ie rung |das Polymerisieren

 

polymetamorph

po ly me ta morph Adjektiv Geologie |polymetam o rph |Gesteine und Gegenden betreffend, die mehrmals metamorph verändert wurden

 

Polymeter

Po ly me ter Substantiv, Neutrum Meteorologie , das |Polym e ter | -meter 1 kombiniertes Hygro- und Thermometer

 

Polymetrie

Po ly me t rie , Po ly me trie Substantiv, feminin , die |Polymetr ie |die Polymetrie; Genitiv: der Polymetrie, Plural: die Polymetrien 1 Anwendung verschiedener Metren 1 in einem Gedicht 2 a Musik gleichzeitiges Auftreten verschiedener Taktarten in mehrstimmiger Musik b Musik häufiger Taktwechsel innerhalb eines Tonstückes

 

Polymnia

Po lym nia Eigenname griechische Mythologie Polyhymnia |Pol y mnia |Muse des ernsten Gesanges

 

polymorph

po ly morph Adjektiv Fachsprache |polym o rph |griechisch polýmorphos, zu: polýs ( poly- , Poly- ) und -morph in verschiedenerlei Gestalt, Form vorhanden, vorkommend; vielgestaltig, verschiedengestaltig

 

Polymorphie

Po ly mor phie Substantiv, feminin , die Polymorphismus |Polymorph ie |1 Vielgestaltigkeit, Verschiedengestaltigkeit 2 Mineralogie, Chemie das Vorkommen mancher Mineralien in verschiedener Form, mit verschiedenen Eigenschaften, aber mit gleicher chemischer Zusammensetzung 3 a Botanik Vielgestaltigkeit der Blätter oder der Blüte einer Pflanze b Botanik die Aufeinanderfolge mehrerer verschieden gestalteter ungeschlechtlicher Generationen bei Algen und Pilzen 4 a Zoologie Vielgestaltigkeit in Tierstöcken und Tierstaaten b Zoologie jahreszeitlich bedingte Vielgestaltigkeit der Zeichnungsmuster bei Schmetterlingen 5 Sprachwissenschaft das Vorhandensein mehrerer sprachlicher Formen für den gleichen Inhalt, die gleiche Funktion (z. B. die verschiedenartigen Pluralbildungen in: die Wiese n, die Feld er , die Schaf e )

 

Polymorphismus

Po ly mor phis mus Substantiv, maskulin , der Polymorphie |Polymorph i smus |der Polymorphismus; Genitiv: des Polymorphismus, Plural: die Polymorphismen 1 Vielgestaltigkeit, Verschiedengestaltigkeit 2 Mineralogie, Chemie das Vorkommen mancher Mineralien in verschiedener Form, mit verschiedenen Eigenschaften, aber mit gleicher chemischer Zusammensetzung 3 a Botanik Vielgestaltigkeit der Blätter oder der Blüte einer Pflanze b Botanik die Aufeinanderfolge mehrerer verschieden gestalteter ungeschlechtlicher Generationen bei Algen und Pilzen 4 a Zoologie Vielgestaltigkeit in Tierstöcken und Tierstaaten b Zoologie jahreszeitlich bedingte Vielgestaltigkeit der Zeichnungsmuster bei Schmetterlingen 5 Sprachwissenschaft das Vorhandensein mehrerer sprachlicher Formen für den gleichen Inhalt, die gleiche Funktion (z. B. die verschiedenartigen Pluralbildungen in: die Wiese n, die Feld er , die Schaf e )

 

Polynesien

Po ly ne si en Substantiv, Neutrum |Polyn e sien |Polynesiens Inselwelt im mittleren Pazifischen Ozean

 

Polynesier

Po ly ne si er Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polyn e sier |Einwohnerbezeichnung

 

Polynesierin

Po ly ne si e rin Substantiv, feminin , die |Polyn e sierin |weibliche Form zu Polynesier

 

polynesisch

po ly ne sisch Adjektiv |polyn e sisch |Polynesien, die Polynesier betreffend, von den Polynesiern stammend, zu ihnen gehörend

 

Polyneuritis

Po ly neu ri tis Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyneur i tis |die Polyneuritis; Genitiv: der Polyneuritis, Plural: die Polyneurititiden in mehreren Nervengebieten gleichzeitig auftretende Entzündung

 

Polyneuropathie

Po ly neu ro pa thie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyneuropath ie |die Polyneuropathie; Genitiv: der Polyneuropathie, Plural: die Polyneuropathien nicht entzündliche, chronische Erkrankung mehrerer peripherer Nerven

 

Polynom

Po ly nom Substantiv, Neutrum Mathematik , das |Polyn o m |das Polynom; Genitiv: des Polynoms, Plural: die Polynome zu lateinisch nomen = Name aus mehr als zwei durch Plus- oder Minuszeichen miteinander verbundenen Gliedern bestehender mathematischer Ausdruck

 

polynomiell

po ly no mi ell Adjektiv Mathematik polynomisch |polynomi e ll |a das Polynom betreffend b vielgliedrig

 

polynomisch

po ly no misch Adjektiv Mathematik polynomiell |polyn o misch |a das Polynom betreffend b vielgliedrig

 

polynukleär

po ly nu k le är, po ly nu kle är Adjektiv Medizin |polynukle ä r |griechisch ; lateinisch-neulateinisch vielkernig z. B. von Zellen

 

Polyopie

Po ly o pie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyop ie |die Polyopie; Genitiv: der Polyopie, Plural: die Polyopien griechisch-neulateinisch Sehstörung, bei der ein Gegenstand mehrfach gesehen wird; Vielfachsehen

 

Polyp

Po lyp Substantiv, maskulin , der |Pol y p |der Polyp; Genitiv: des Polypen, Plural: die Polypen lateinisch polypus < griechisch polýpous, eigentlich = vielfüßig, zu: poús = Fuß 1 auf einem Untergrund festsitzendes Nesseltier, das oft große Stöcke bildet 2 veraltet, noch Gastronomie Krake 3 a Medizin gutartige, oft gestielte Geschwulst der Schleimhäute, besonders in der Nase jemandem die Polypen herausnehmen b umgangssprachlich Wucherung der Rachenmandel 4 zu älter gaunersprachlich polipee, vielleicht aus dem Jiddischen, beeinflusst vom scherzhaften Vergleich der »Fangarme « des Polizisten mit denen des Polypen salopp Polizist; Polizei-, Kriminalbeamter

 

polypenartig

po ly pen ar tig Adjektiv |pol y penartig |einem Polypen ähnlich, wie ein Polyp

 

Polypeptid

Po ly pep tid Substantiv, Neutrum Biochemie , das |Polypept i d |das Polypeptid; Genitiv: des Polypeptid [e ]s, Plural: die Polypeptide aus verschiedenen Aminosäuren aufgebautes Produkt beim Ab- und Aufbau der Eiweißkörper

 

polyphag

po ly phag Adjektiv Biologie |polyph a g |zu griechisch phageĩn = essen, fressen (von Tieren ) Nahrung verschiedenster Herkunft aufnehmend

 

Polyphage

Po ly pha ge Substantiv, maskulin Zoologie , der |Polyph a ge |polyphages Tier

 

Polyphagie

Po ly pha gie Substantiv, feminin , die |Polyphag ie |die Polyphagie; Genitiv: der Polyphagie, Plural: die Polyphagien 1 Medizin krankhaft gesteigerter Appetit, Gefräßigkeit 2 Biologie polyphage Ernährungsweise von Tieren bzw. von Parasiten, die auf vielen verschiedenen Wirtsorganismen schmarotzen

 

polyphän

po ly phän Adjektiv Biologie |polyph ä n |griechisch-neulateinisch an der Ausbildung mehrerer Merkmale eines Organismus beteiligt (von Genen )

 

Polyphem

Po ly phem Eigenname griechische Mythologie |Polyph e m |ein Zyklop

 

Polyphemos

Po ly phe mos Eigenname |Pol y phemos |griechische Form von Polyphem

 

Polyphrasie

Po ly phra sie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyphras ie |die Polyphrasie; Genitiv: der Polyphrasie griechisch-neulateinisch ; »Vielreden «krankhafte Geschwätzigkeit

 

polyphyletisch

po ly phy le tisch Adjektiv |polyphyl e tisch |mehrstämmig in Bezug auf die Stammesgeschichte; Gegensatz monophyletisch

 

Polyphyletismus

Po ly phy le tis mus Substantiv, maskulin , der Polyphylie |Polyphylet i smus |der Polyphyletismus; Genitiv: des Polyphyletismus Polygenese

 

Polyphylie

Po ly phy lie Substantiv, feminin , die Polyphyletismus |Polyphyl ie |die Polyphylie; Genitiv: der Polyphylie Polygenese

 

Polyphyllie

Po ly phyl lie Substantiv, feminin Botanik , die |Polyphyll ie |die Polyphyllie; Genitiv: der Polyphyllie zu griechisch phýllon = Blatt Überzähligkeit in der Gliederzahl eines Blattwirbels

 

Polypionie

Po ly pi o nie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polypion ie |Fettsucht, Fettleibigkeit

 

polyploid

po ly plo id Adjektiv Biologie |polyplo i d |gebildet nach diploid , haploid (von Zellkernen ) mehr als zwei Chromosomensätze aufweisend

 

Polyploidie

Po ly plo i die Substantiv, feminin Biologie , die |Polyploid ie |die Polyploidie; Genitiv: der Polyploidie das Vorhandensein von mehr als zwei Chromosomensätzen; Vervielfachung des Chromosomensatzes

 

Polypnoe

Po ly pnoe Substantiv, feminin , die |Polypn o e |die Polypnoe; Genitiv: der Polypnoe Tachypnoe

 

Polypodium

Po ly po di um Substantiv, Neutrum Botanik , das |Polyp o dium |das Polypodium; Genitiv: des Polypodiums, Plural: die Polypodien griechisch-neulateinisch Tüpfelfarn

 

polypoid

po ly po id Adjektiv Medizin |polypo i d |polypenartig z. B. von Schleimhautwucherungen

 

Polypol

Po ly pol Substantiv, Neutrum Wirtschaft , das |Polyp o l |das Polypol; Genitiv: des Polypols, Plural: die Polypole gebildet nach Oligopol Marktform, bei der auf der Angebots- oder Nachfrageseite jeweils mehrere Anbieter bzw. Nachfrager miteinander in Konkurrenz stehen

 

polypös

po ly pös Adjektiv Medizin |polyp ö s |polypenartig, mit Polypenbildung einhergehend

 

Polypose

Po ly po se Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyp o se |die Polypose; Genitiv: der Polypose, Plural: die Polyposen ausgebreitete Polypenbildung

 

Polypragmasie

Po ly prag ma sie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polypragmas ie |die Polypragmasie; Genitiv: der Polypragmasie, Plural: die Polypragmasien das Ausprobieren vieler Behandlungsmethoden und Arzneien

 

Polypropylen

Po ly pro py len Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polypropyl e n |das Polypropylen; Genitiv: des Polypropylens durch Polymerisation von Propylen hergestellter thermoplastischer Kunststoff

 

Polyptoton

Po ly p to ton , Po lyp to ton Substantiv, Neutrum Rhetorik , das |Pol y ptoton |das Polyptoton; Genitiv: des Polyptotons, Plural: die Polyptota griechisch-lateinisch Wiederholung desselben Wortes in einem Satz in verschiedenen Kasus (z. B.: der alte Urstand der Natur kehrt wieder, wo Mensch dem Menschen gegenübersteht )

 

Polyptychon

Po ly p ty chon , Po lyp ty chon Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Pol y ptychon |das Polyptychon; Genitiv: des Polyptychons, Plural: die Polyptychen und Polyptycha griechisch 1 aus mehr als drei Teilen bestehende, zusammenklappbare Schreibtafel des Altertums 2 Flügelaltar mit mehr als zwei Flügeln; vgl. Diptychon , Triptychon

 

Polyreaktion

Po ly re ak ti on Substantiv, feminin Chemie , die |Polyreakti o n |sich vielfach wiederholende chemische Reaktion, bei der sich ein Polymer bildet

 

Polyrhythmik

Po ly rhyth mik Substantiv, feminin Musik , die |Polyrh y thmik |gleichzeitiges Auftreten verschiedenartiger Rhythmen in den einzelnen Stimmen einer Komposition (z. B. im Jazz )

 

Polyrhythmiker

Po ly rhyth mi ker Substantiv, maskulin Musik , der |Polyrh y thmiker |der Polyrhythmiker; Genitiv: des Polyrhythmikers, Plural: die Polyrhythmiker Komponist polyrhythmischer Tonstücke

 

Polyrhythmikerin

Po ly rhyth mi ke rin Substantiv, feminin , die |Polyrh y thmikerin |die Polyrhythmikerin; Genitiv: der Polyrhythmikerin, Plural: die Polyrhythmikerinnen weibliche Form zu Polyrhythmiker

 

polyrhythmisch

po ly rhyth misch Adjektiv Musik |polyrh y thmisch |die Polyrhythmik betreffend, zu ihr gehörend; Polyrhythmik aufweisend

 

Polysaccharid

Po ly sac cha rid , Po ly sa cha rid Substantiv, Neutrum Biochemie , das Polysacharid |Polysacchar i d Polysachar i d …zaxa … …zaxa …|das Polysaccharid; Genitiv: des Polysaccharid [e ]s, Plural: die Polysaccharide das Polysacharid; Genitiv: des Polysacharid [e ]s, Plural: die Polysacharide aus zahlreichen Monosacchariden aufgebautes hochmolekulares Kohlehydrat

 

polysaprob

po ly sa p rob , po ly sa prob Adjektiv |polysapr o b |stark mit organischen Abwässern belastet, mit Polysaprobien durchsetzt von Gewässern

 

Polysaprobie

Po ly sa p ro bie , Po ly sa pro bie Substantiv, feminin , die |Polysapr o bie …i̯ə |die Polysaprobie; Genitiv: der Polysaprobie, Plural: die Polysaprobien meist im Plural Organismus, der in faulendem Wasser lebt

 

polysem

po ly sem Adjektiv Sprachwissenschaft polysemantisch |polys e m |griechisch polýsēmos, polysḗmantos = vieles bezeichnend (von Wörtern ) mehrere Bedeutungen habend; Polysemie aufweisend

 

polysemantisch

po ly se man tisch Adjektiv Sprachwissenschaft polysem |polysem a ntisch |griechisch polýsēmos, polysḗmantos = vieles bezeichnend (von Wörtern ) mehrere Bedeutungen habend; Polysemie aufweisend

 

Polysemie

Po ly se mie Substantiv, feminin Sprachwissenschaft , die |Polysem ie |Vorhandensein mehrerer Bedeutungen bei einem Wort z. B. Pferd = Tier, Turngerät, Schachfigur

 

Polysialie

Po ly si a lie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polysial ie |die Polysialie; Genitiv: der Polysialie krankhaft vermehrter Speichelfluss; vgl. Ptyalismus

 

Polyspermie

Po ly sper mie Substantiv, feminin , die |Polysperm ie |die Polyspermie; Genitiv: der Polyspermie, Plural: die Polyspermien 1 Biologie Eindringen mehrerer Samenfäden in ein Ei; Gegensatz Monospermie 2 Spermatorrhö

 

Polystyrol

Po ly sty rol Substantiv, Neutrum Chemie, Technik , das |Polystyr o l |das Polystyrol; Genitiv: des Polystyrols, Plural: die Polystyrole durch Polymerisation von Styrol gewonnener, in verschiedenen Formen herstellbarer, vielseitig verwendbarer Kunststoff

 

polysyllabisch

po ly syl la bisch Adjektiv Sprachwissenschaft |polysyll a bisch |spätlateinisch polysyllabus < griechisch polysýllabos (von Wörtern ) aus mehreren Silben bestehend, mehrsilbig

 

Polysyllabum

Po ly syl la bum Substantiv, Neutrum Sprachwissenschaft , das |Polys y llabum |das Polysyllabum; Genitiv: des Polysyllabums, Plural: die Polysyllaba mehrsilbiges Wort

 

Polysyllogismus

Po ly syl lo gis mus Substantiv, maskulin Philosophie , der |Polysyllog i smus |der Polysyllogismus; Genitiv: des Polysyllogismus, Plural: die Polysyllogismen aus vielen Syllogismen zusammengesetzte Schlusskette, bei der der vorangehende Schlusssatz zur Prämisse für den folgenden wird

 

polysyndetisch

po ly syn de tisch Adjektiv |polysynd e tisch |griechisch ; »vielfach verbunden «a das Polysyndeton betreffend b Sprachwissenschaft durch mehrere Bindewörter verbunden

 

Polysyndeton

Po ly syn de ton Substantiv, Neutrum Sprachwissenschaft , das |Polys y ndeton |das Polysyndeton; Genitiv: des Polysyndetons, Plural: die Polysyndeta griechisch polysýndeton, eigentlich = das vielfach Verbundene Reihe von Wörtern, Satzteilen, Sätzen, deren Glieder durch Konjunktionen miteinander verbunden sind

 

polysynthetisch

po ly syn the tisch Adjektiv Sprachwissenschaft |polysynth e tisch |vielfach zusammengesetzt polysynthetische Sprachen (Sprachen, wie die Indianersprachen, bei denen mehrere Bestandteile des Satzes zu einem Wort verschmolzen werden )

 

Polysynthetismus

Po ly syn the tis mus Substantiv, maskulin Sprachwissenschaft , der |Polysynthet i smus |griechisch-neulateinisch Erscheinung des polysynthetischen Sprachbaus

 

Polytechnik

Po ly tech nik Substantiv, feminin , die |Polyt e chnik |die Polytechnik; Genitiv: der Polytechnik a Fachgebiet, das mehrere Zweige der Technik, auch der Wirtschaft, der Gesellschaftspolitik o. Ä. umfasst die Studenten werden in Polytechnik ausgebildet b besonders DDR Polytechnik a als Unterrichtsfach in der Schule morgen haben wir zwei Stunden Polytechnik

 

Polytechnikerin

Po ly tech ni ke rin Substantiv, feminin , die |Polyt e chnikerin |weibliche Form zu Polytechniker

 

Polytechnikum

Po ly tech ni kum Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyt e chnikum |das Polytechnikum; Genitiv: des Polytechnikums, Plural: die Polytechnika, auch: Polytechniken a (früher ) technische Hochschule, Ingenieurschule b höhere technische Lehranstalt

 

polytechnisch

po ly tech nisch Adjektiv |polyt e chnisch |mehrere Zweige der Technik, auch der Wirtschaft, der Gesellschaftspolitik o. Ä. umfassend die polytechnische Grundbildung an Haupt-, Real- und Gesamtschulen der Bundesrepublik | besonders DDR polytechnischer Unterricht | eine polytechnische Schule

 

Polytheismus

Po ly the is mus Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polythe i smus |Glaube an eine Vielzahl von (männlich und weiblich gedachten ) Gottheiten; Vielgötterei

 

Polytheist

Po ly the ist Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polythe i st |Anhänger des Polytheismus

 

Polytheistin

Po ly the is tin Substantiv, feminin , die |Polythe i stin |weibliche Form zu Polytheist

 

polytheistisch

po ly the is tisch Adjektiv |polythe i stisch |den Polytheismus betreffend, ihm entsprechend, auf ihm beruhend polytheistische Religionen

 

Polythelie

Po ly the lie Substantiv, feminin , die |Polythel ie |die Polythelie; Genitiv: der Polythelie, Plural: die Polythelien Polymastie

 

Polytomie

Po ly to mie Substantiv, feminin Botanik , die |Polytom ie |die Polytomie; Genitiv: der Polytomie Vielfachverzweigung der Sprossspitzen

 

polytonal

po ly to nal Adjektiv Musik |polyton a l |die Polytonalität betreffend, zu ihr gehörend; nach den Gesetzen der Polytonalität komponiert; mehrere Tonarten in den verschiedenen Stimmen zugleich aufweisend polytonale Musik

 

Polytonalität

Po ly to na li tät Substantiv, feminin Musik , die |Polytonalit ä t |1 gleichzeitiges Auftreten mehrerer Tonarten in den einzelnen Stimmen einer Komposition 2 polytonale Passage in einem Musikstück

 

Polytrichie

Po ly tri chie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polytrich ie |die Polytrichie; Genitiv: der Polytrichie, Plural: die Polytrichien abnorm starke Körperbehaarung

 

polytrop

po ly trop Adjektiv Biologie |polytr o p |griechisch sehr anpassungsfähig von Organismen

 

Polytropismus

Po ly tro pis mus Substantiv, maskulin Biologie , der |Polytrop i smus |der Polytropismus; Genitiv: des Polytropismus griechisch-neulateinisch große Anpassungsfähigkeit bestimmter Organismen

 

Polytype

Po ly ty pe Substantiv, feminin , die |Polyt y pe |die Polytype; Genitiv: der Polytype, Plural: die Polytypen Drucktype mit mehreren Buchstaben

 

Polyurethan

Po ly ure than Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyureth a n |das Polyurethan; Genitiv: des Polyurethans, Plural: die Polyurethane meist im Plural zu neulateinisch urea = Harnstoff (zu Urin ) und Äthan wichtiger, vielseitig verwendbarer Kunststoff

 

Polyurie

Po ly urie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyur ie |die Polyurie; Genitiv: der Polyurie, Plural: die Polyurien griechisch-neulateinisch krankhafte Vermehrung der Harnmenge

 

polyvalent

po ly va lent Adjektiv |polyval e nt |1 Psychologie multivalent 2 Medizin in mehrfacher Beziehung wirksam, gegen verschiedene Erreger oder Giftstoffe gerichtet z. B. von Seren

 

Polyvalenz

Po ly va lenz Substantiv, feminin , die |Polyval e nz |die Polyvalenz; Genitiv: der Polyvalenz, Plural: die Polyvalenzen griechisch; lateinisch breit gefächerte Einsatzmöglichkeit

 

Polyvinylacetat

Po ly vi nyl ace tat Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyvin y lacetat |das Polyvinylacetat; Genitiv: des Polyvinylacetats, Plural: die Polyvinylacetate meist im Plural durch Polymerisation von Vinylacetat gewonnener, vielseitig verwendbarer Kunststoff

 

Polyvinylchlorid

Po ly vi nyl chlo rid Substantiv, Neutrum , das |Polyvin y lchlorid |PVC

 

polyzentrisch

po ly zen t risch, po ly zen trisch Adjektiv |polyz e ntrisch |mehrere Zentren aufweisend, zu mehreren Zentren gehörend

 

Polyzentrismus

Po ly zen t ris mus , Po ly zen tris mus Substantiv, maskulin , der |Polyzentr i smus |der Polyzentrismus; Genitiv: des Polyzentrismus 1 Politik Zustand innerhalb des ehemaligen kommunistischen Machtbereiches, in dem die [ideologische ] Vorherrschaft nicht mehr nur von einer Stelle (Partei, Staat ) ausgeübt wird, sondern von mehreren Machtzentren ausgeht 2 die Existenz mehrerer Wirtschafts- oder Machtzentren innerhalb eines bestimmten Gebietes

 

polyzyklisch

po ly zy k lisch , po ly cy c lisch , po ly zy klisch po ly cy clisch Adjektiv Chemie polycyclisch |polyz y klisch polyc y clisch auch …ˈt͜sʏk …|(von organischen chemischen Verbindungen ) zwei oder mehr Ringe miteinander verbundener Atome im Molekül aufweisend

 

Polyzythämie

Po ly zyt hä mie Substantiv, feminin Medizin , die |Polyzythäm ie |die Polyzythämie; Genitiv: der Polyzythämie, Plural: die Polyzythämien Erkrankung, die durch übermäßige Vermehrung der Erythrozyten gekennzeichnet ist

 

French Dictionary

poly-

poly- préf. préfixe Élément du grec signifiant « nombreux ». Note Technique Les mots composés avec le préfixe poly- s ’écrivent en un seul mot. Polytechnique.

 

polyarthrite

polyarthrite n. f. médecine Inflammation de plusieurs articulations. : Cette personne souffre de polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

 

polychrome

polychrome adj. adjectif Qui comporte plusieurs couleurs. : Une gravure polychrome. ANTONYME monochrome . Note Orthographique pol y chrome.

 

polychromie

polychromie n. f. État de ce qui est polychrome. ANTONYME monochromie .

 

polyclinique

polyclinique n. f. nom féminin Établissement médical où l ’on traite diverses maladies, où travaillent des médecins de différentes spécialités. Note Orthographique pol y clinique.

 

polycopie

polycopie n. f. nom féminin Reproduction d ’un document par décalque. Note Technique Ce nom tend à être supplanté par celui de photocopie, reproduction photographique d ’un document. Note Orthographique pol y copie.

 

polycopier

polycopier v. tr. verbe transitif Reproduire par polycopie. : Vos notes de cours seront polycopiées. Note Technique Ce verbe tend à être supplanté par celui de photocopier, reproduire photographiquement un document. étudier Conjugaison Redoublement du i à la première et à la deuxième personne du pluriel de l ’indicatif imparfait et du subjonctif présent. (Que ) nous polycopiions, (que ) vous polycopiiez.Note Orthographique pol y copier.

 

polygame

polygame adj. et n. m. et f. adjectif et nom masculin et féminin 1 Qui a plusieurs femmes, en parlant d ’un homme. : Un sultan polygame. ANTONYME monogame . 2 Qui a plusieurs maris, en parlant d ’une femme. : Faire la connaissance d ’une polygame, ce n ’est pas chose courante. ANTONYME monogame . Note Orthographique pol y ga m e, un seul m.

 

polygamie

polygamie n. f. nom féminin État d ’une personne polygame. ANTONYME monogamie . Note Orthographique pol y ga m ie.

 

polyglotte

polyglotte adj. et n. m. et f. adjectif et nom masculin et féminin Qui parle plusieurs langues. : Un guide polyglotte qui parle le français, l ’anglais, l ’italien et l ’espagnol. Une polyglotte sympathique. SYNONYME multilingue ; plurilingue . ANTONYME unilingue . Note Orthographique pol y glo tte.

 

polygone

polygone n. m. nom masculin Figure plane qui a plusieurs angles et plusieurs côtés. Note Orthographique pol y gone.

 

polyhandicapé

polyhandicapé , ée adj. et n. m. et f. Qui présente différentes déficiences physiques ou mentales. : « La création d ’espaces de stimulation destinés à des enfants polyhandicapés ou autistes » (Le Point ).

 

polymorphe

polymorphe adj. adjectif didactique Qui prend différentes formes. Note Orthographique pol y mor ph e.

 

polynésien

polynésien , ienne adj. et n. m. et f. adjectif et nom masculin et féminin De Polynésie. : Le folklore polynésien. Un Polynésien, une Polynésienne. Note Typographique L ’adjectif s ’écrit avec une minuscule; le nom, avec une majuscule.

 

polype

polype n. m. nom masculin médecine Excroissance, tumeur bénigne. : Faire l ’excision d ’un polype. Note Orthographique pol y pe.

 

polysémie

polysémie n. f. nom féminin linguistique Propriété d ’un mot qui comporte plusieurs significations. : La polysémie du mot plat signifiant « récipient, mets, partie unie ». Prononciation Le o est ouvert, [pɔlisemi ] Note Orthographique pol y sémie.

 

polysémique

polysémique adj. adjectif linguistique Qui a plusieurs significations. : Le nom plat est polysémique, car il a plusieurs sens. Prononciation Le o est ouvert, [pɔlisemik ] Note Orthographique pol y sémique.

 

polystyrène

polystyrène n. m. nom masculin Matière synthétique. : Un emballage en polystyrène (et non en *styrofoam ). Note Orthographique pol y st y rène.

 

polytechnique

polytechnique adj. adjectif Qui concerne plusieurs sciences, plusieurs techniques. LOCUTION École polytechnique. École universitaire où sont formés les ingénieurs de toutes les spécialités. : Éléna va à l ’École polytechnique. Note Typographique Si l ’adjectif est employé seul, il prend alors une majuscule. Elle est inscrite à Polytechnique.

 

polythène

polythène ou polyéthylène n. m. nom masculin Matière plastique translucide. : Une pellicule de polythène, de polyéthylène. Note Orthographique pol y t h ène.

 

polytoxicomanie

polytoxicomanie n. f. médecine Usage simultané ou alterné de deux ou plusieurs substances (drogue, alcool, etc. ).

 

polytransfusé

polytransfusé , ée adj. et n. m. et f. médecine Qui a reçu plusieurs transfusions sanguines. : De nombreux hémophiles polytransfusés ont été contaminés par le virus du sida. Ces polytransfusés ont été sauvés par les dons de sang.

 

polytraumatisé

polytraumatisé , ée adj. et n. m. et f. médecine Qui présente plusieurs lésions graves, à la suite d ’un même accident. : L ’hôpital a reçu trois blessés polytraumatisés. Les polytraumatisés de la moto.

 

polyvalence

polyvalence n. f. nom féminin Caractère de ce qui est polyvalent. : La polyvalence d ’une formation en administration. Note Orthographique pol y valence.

 

polyvalent

polyvalent , ente adj. adjectif Qui a plusieurs fonctions différentes, qui jouit de plusieurs possibilités. : Un antibiotique polyvalent. Des informations polyvalentes.

 

polyvalente

polyvalente n. f. nom féminin École secondaire où sont dispensés à la fois l ’enseignement général et l ’enseignement professionnel (Recomm. off. ). : La polyvalente Pierre-Laporte.

 

Spanish Dictionary

polyester

polyester nombre masculino Poliéster .Se pronuncia ‘poliéster ’.

 

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

poly

pol y /pɑ́li |pɔ́li /名詞 複 ～s ｟主に英 くだけて ｠＝polytechnic .

 

poly-

pol y- /pɑ́li |pɔ́li /接頭辞 多数の, 多量の (↔mono- )▸ poly syllable 多音節語 .

 

polyamorous

pol y am o rous /pɑ̀liǽm (ə )rəs |pɔ̀ -/形容詞 多情な, 同時に複数と性的関係を結んだ .

 

polyandry

pol y an dry /pɑ̀liǽndri |pɔ̀l -/名詞 U 一妻多夫 (制 ); 〘植 〙多雄蕊 （ずい ）性 .p ò l y á n drous /-drəs /形容詞

 

polyanthus

pol y an thus /pɑ̀liǽnθəs /名詞 C U 〘植 〙ポリアンサス 〘サクラソウの一種 〙.

 

polyester

pol y es ter /pɑ́lièstə r |pɔ̀liéstə /名詞 U 〘化 〙ポリエステル 〘高分子化合物の一種; 衣料繊維 〙.

 

polyethylene

pol y eth y lene /pɑ̀liéθəlìːn |pɔ̀l -/名詞 U ｟米 ｠〘化 〙ポリエチレン (｟英 ｠polythene ).

 

polygamous

po lyg a mous /pəlɪ́ɡəməs /形容詞 1 複婚制の, 一夫多妻 (主義 )の .2 〘植 〙雌雄混株の, 雑性花の .3 〘動 〙多婚性の .～ly 副詞

 

polygamy

po lyg a my /pəlɪ́ɡəmi /名詞 U 1 複婚制 〘一夫多妻または ｟まれ ｠一妻多夫; →monogamy , bigamy , polyandry 〙.2 〘植 〙雌雄混株 (性 ).po l ý g a mist 名詞 C 一夫多妻 (主義 )者 .

 

polyglot

pol y glot /pɑ́liɡlɑ̀t |pɔ́liɡlɔ̀t /形容詞 数か国語に通じる ; 数か国語で書かれた (multilingual )(→bilingual ); 〈社会などが 〉多言語が使われる ▸ a polyglot Bible 数か国語の対訳聖書 .名詞 C 数か国語に通じる人 ; 数か国語で書いた本 [聖書 ]; 多言語の混交 .

 

polygon

pol y gon /pɑ́liɡɑ̀n |pɔ́liɡ (ə )n /名詞 C 〘数 〙多角形 .

 

polygraph

pol y graph /pɑ́liɡræ̀f |pɔ́liɡrɑ̀ːf /名詞 C ポリグラフ, うそ発見器 (lie detector ).p ò l y gr á ph ic /-ɡrǽfic /形容詞

 

polyhedron

pol y he dron /pɑ̀lihíːdr (ə )n |pɔ̀l -/名詞 複 ～s, -dra /-rə /C 〘数 〙多面体 .

 

polymath

pol y math /pɑ́limæθ |pɔ́l -/名詞 C ｟かたく 満足して ｠博識 [博学 ]家, 大学者 .

 

polymer

pol y mer /pɑ́ləmə r |pɔ́li -/名詞 C 〘化 〙ポリマー, 重合体 .p ò l y m é r ic /-mérɪk /形容詞

 

polymorphous

pol y mor phous -phic /pɑ̀limɔ́ː r fəs //-mɔ́ː r fɪk /形容詞 多形の, 多様な ; 〘生物 〙多形態の .

 

Polynesia

Pol y ne sia /pɑ̀ləníːʒə, -ʃə |pɔ̀lɪníːziə /名詞 ポリネシア 〘Oceania東部の小群島の総称; Hawaii諸島, Samoa諸島, New Zealandなどを含む 〙.

 

Polynesian

Pol y ne sian /pɑ̀ləníːʒ (ə )n, -ʃ (ə )n |pɔ̀lɪníːziən /形容詞 1 ポリネシアの .2 ポリネシア人 [語 ]の .名詞 1 C ポリネシア人 .2 U ポリネシア語 .

 

polynomial

pol y no mi al /pɑ̀lənóʊmiəl |pɔ̀li -/名詞 C 形容詞 〘数 〙多項式 (の ), 整式 (の ); 〘生物 〙多名 (の ).

 

polyp

pol yp /pɑ́ləp |pɔ́lɪp /名詞 C 1 〘動 〙ポリプ 〘イソギンチャクなど 〙.2 〘医 〙ポリープ 〘皮膚や粘膜にできる腫 （は ）れ物 〙.

 

polyphonic

pol y phon ic /pɑ̀lifɑ́nɪk |pɔ̀lifɔ́n -/形容詞 多音 [声 ]の ; 〘楽 〙多声の, 対位法の .

 

polyphony

po lyph o ny /pəlɪ́f (ə )ni /名詞 U 1 〘音声 〙多音 .2 〘楽 〙多声部音楽, ポリフォニー, 対位法 .

 

polypill

pol y pill /pɑ̀lipɪ́l |pɔ̀ -/名詞 C ポリピル 〘各種成人病予防薬をブレンドした錠剤 〙.

 

polypropylene

pol y pro py lene /pɑ̀lipróʊpəlìːn |pɔ̀l -/名詞 U 〘化 〙ポリプロピレン 〘プラスチックの1種 〙.

 

polysemous

pol y se mous /pəlɪ́sɪməs , ｟米 ｠pɑ̀lisíːməs /形容詞 〘言 〙多義の .

 

polysemy

po ly se my /pəlɪ́sɪmi , ｟米 ｠pɑ̀lisíːmi /名詞 U 〘言 〙多義 (性 ).

 

polystyrene

pol y sty rene /pɑ̀listáɪ (ə )riːn |pɔ̀l -/名詞 U ｟英 ｠〘化 〙ポリスチレン, スチロール樹脂 〘発泡スチロールとして緩衝材や断熱材に使用; ｟米 ｠Styrofoam 〙.

 

polysyllabic

pol y syl lab ic /pɑ̀lisɪlǽbɪk |pɔl -/形容詞 多音節の .

 

polysyllable

pol y syl la ble /pɑ́lisɪ̀ləb (ə )l |pɔ́l -/名詞 C 多音節語 .

 

polytechnic

pol y tech nic /pɑ̀litéknɪk |pɔ̀l -/名詞 C ｟英 ｠ポリテクニック, 工芸 [科学技術, 工業技術 ]専門学校 (｟くだけて ｠poly ) 〘英国の高等教育機関; 1992年に大学に再編成された 〙.形容詞 工芸の ; 科学 [工業 ]技術教育の .

 

polytheism

pol y the ism /pɑ́liθiɪ̀z (ə )m |pɔ́l -/名詞 U 多神論 [教 ], 多神信仰 .

 

polytheistic

pol y the is tic /pɑ̀liθiɪ́stɪk |pɔ̀l -/形容詞 多神論の .

 

polythene

pol y thene /pɑ́lɪθìːn |pɔ́l -/ (! 強勢は第1音節 ) 名詞 U ｟英 ｠〘化 〙ポリエチレン (｟米 ｠polyethylene ).

 

polyunsaturate

pol y un sat u rate /pɑ̀liʌnsǽtʃəreɪt /名詞 C 多価不飽和脂肪 (酸 ).

 

polyunsaturated

pol y un sat u rat ed /pɑ̀liʌnsǽtʃərèɪtɪd |pɔ̀l -/形容詞 〘化 〙〈脂肪 油脂が 〉高度不飽和の .～̀ f á ts 多価不飽和脂肪 .

 

polyurethane

pol y u re thane /pɑ̀lijú ə rəθeɪn |pɔ̀l -/名詞 U 〘化 〙ポリウレタン 〘合成ゴム 合成繊維 絶縁体などに使用 〙.

 

polyvinyl chloride

p ò l y vi nyl chl ó ride /pɑ̀livaɪn (ə )l- |pɔ̀l -/名詞 U 〘化 〙ポリ塩化ビニール .