Poly


[pol-ee] /ˈpɒl i/

noun, plural polies.
1.
Informal. (def 2):
a blend of poly and cotton.
2.
a fabric or garment made of polyester.
adjective
3.
made of or containing polyester:
a poly swimsuit.
1.
a combining form with the meanings “much, many” and, in chemistry, “polymeric,” used in the formation of compound words:
polyandrous; polyculture; polyethylene.
1.
.
/ˈpɒlɪ/
noun (pl) polys
1.
(informal) short for polytechnic
adjective
2.
(informal) short for polyester
3.
(informal) short for polythene
combining form
1.
more than one; many or much: polyhedron
2.
having an excessive or abnormal number or amount: polycythaemia

word-forming element meaning “many, much, multi-, one or more,” from Greek poly-, combining form of polys “much” (plural polloi); cognate with Latin plus, from PIE root *pele- (1) “to fill,” with derivatives referring to multitudinousness or abundance (cf. Sanskrit purvi “much,” prayah “mostly;” Avestan perena-, Old Persian paru “much;” Greek plethos “people, multitude, great number,” polys “much, plenty,” ploutos “wealth;” Lithuanian pilus “full, abundant;” Old Church Slavonic plunu; Gothic filu “much,” Old Norse fjöl-, Old English fela, feola “much, many;” Old English folgian; Old Irish lan, Welsh llawn “full;” Old Irish il, Welsh elu “much”); probably related to root *pele- (2) “to spread.”

Properly used in compounds only with words of Greek origin. In chemical names, usually indicating a compound with a large number of atoms or molecules of the same kind (cf. polymer).

poly- pref.

poly-
A prefix meaning “many,” as in polygon, a figure having many sides. In chemistry, it is used to form the names of polymers by being attached to the name of the base unit of which the polymer is made, as in polysaccharide, a polymer made of repeating simple sugars (monosaccharides).

language
1. A polymorphic, block-structured language developed by D.C.J. Matthews at Cambridge in the early 1980s.
[“An Overview of the Poly Programming Language”, D.C.J. Matthews, in Data Types and Persistence, M.P. Atkinson et al eds, Springer 1988].
2. A language developed at St Andrews University, Scotland.
[Software Practice & Exp, Oct 1986].
3. A polymorphic language used in the referenced book.
[“Polymorphic Programming Languages”, David M. Harland, Ellis Horwood 1984].
(2000-11-07)
polyester fiber

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    [pol-ee-uh-kril-uh-mahyd, -mid, -ak-ruh-lam-ahyd, -id] /ˌpɒl i əˈkrɪl əˌmaɪd, -mɪd, -ˌæk rəˈlæm aɪd, -ɪd/ noun, Chemistry. 1. a white, solid, water-soluble polymer of , used in secondary oil recovery, as a thickening agent, a flocculant, and an absorbent, and to separate macromolecules of different molecular weights. polyacrylamide (pŏl’ē-ə-krĭl’ə-mīd’) A white, water-soluble polymer containing repeating units of […]

  • Polyacrylic-acid

    [pol-ee-uh-kril-ik, pol-] /ˈpɒl i əˈkrɪl ɪk, ˌpɒl-/ noun, Chemistry. 1. a polymer of used as a sizing agent in the manufacture of nylon and other synthetic textiles.

  • Polyacrylonitrile

    [pol-ee-ak-ruh-loh-nahy-tril, -treel, -trahyl] /ˌpɒl iˌæk rə loʊˈnaɪ trɪl, -tril, -traɪl/ noun, Chemistry. 1. a polymer of used in the manufacture of Orlon and other synthetic textiles.

  • Polyadelphous

    [pol-ee-uh-del-fuh s] /ˌpɒl i əˈdɛl fəs/ adjective, Botany. 1. (of stamens) united by the filaments into three or more sets or bundles. /ˌpɒlɪəˈdɛlfəs/ adjective 1. (of stamens) having united filaments so that they are arranged in three or more groups 2. (of flowers) having polyadelphous stamens


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