poly-

1. Someone who is knowledgeable in a variety of subjects.
2. A person of great and diversified learning.
3. Someone of great learning in several fields of study.

The presence of more than two mammae (breasts) in a human or other primate that typically has only two.

Having numerous facets, lenses, or small eyes that make up the compound eyes of insects and crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and barnacles): Some creatures have polymeniscous oculi which include many combinations of lenses in their visual receptive organs.

Abnormally frequent menstruation, defined as that occurring at regular intervals of less than 21 days. Synonym: epimenorrhea.

An electrode in which the sensing membrane is an organic polymer containing a hydrophobic ion-exchange neutral carrier (ionophore).

Having many members, or parts, of each series of a flower.

1. The combination of many like or unlike molecules to form a more complex product of higher molecular weight, with elimination of water, alcohol, etc. (condensation polymerization), or without such elimination (addition polymerization).
2. In chemistry, the process of changing the molecular arrangement of a compound so as to form new compounds having the same percentage composition as the original, but of different (usually greater) molecular weight and different properties.

The method may be linear, by the successive addition of small structural units to form a chain; cyclic, by the formation of rings; or cross-linked, by a three-dimensional fusion of either linear or cyclic elements.

Referring to a lake having no persistent thermal stratification which is continually circulating with only brief periods of stability.

Neurons that are multi, or wide dynamic range nociceptors (nerve endings that responds selectively to painful stimuli, causing the sensation of pain): Polymodal nociceptors are activated by heat, mechanical pressure, or chemical mediators of inflammation and are released as a result of tissue injury.

An animal or plant that has several different adult forms.

1. A reference to something occurring in several or many forms.
2. Relating to what appears in different forms at different stages of development.

In computer technology, referring to a computer system in which major parts or units are held in a common pool, assigned to executing programs based on need, and returned to the pool when they are no longer needed.

1. The assumption of various distinct forms by a single organism or species.
2. In cytomorphology, variation in the size and shape of cells or nuclei.
3. In chemistry, crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms.
4. In biology, the occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individual organisms or in organisms of the same species, independent of gender variations.
5. In zoology, the characteristics of assuming or passing through several forms, as an animal exhibiting seasonal changes in coloration.
6. In mineralogy, the occurrence in a mineral of two or more distinct crystal forms of identical chemical composition.

Referring to someone, or something, that occurs in many different forms, stages of development, or styles: Honeybees are one example of polymorphous developmental procedures; for example, when the queen bee lays eggs, they are all the same kind of larvae at first and they don't look anything like bees. They will grow into queens or workers depending on the way they are fed.

Many plants and animals have polymorphous forms when they are mature or fully developed.

There are polymorphous shapes and sizes of creatures, or species, that result in different physical structures; and even of all humans, at various developmental periods in their life cycles.

© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.