poly-

1. Having or characterized by having many meanings.
2. The existence of several meanings for a single word or phrase.

Learn more about polysemy and polysemous and how they apply to multiple words.

The capacity of an organ, or an organism, to respond to multiple stimulations: Sitting quietly by the lake, Sara was aware of her polysensitivity because, as she was enjoying the vision of the sunset and the sound of the loons echoing over the lake, she also felt the zing of a mosquito bite on her arm.

1. Regarding something that is responsive to multiple agents or stimuli: The home alarm system that was installed in Jeremy's house was a polysensory system which responded to light and to movements.
2. Affecting or pertaining to several physical mechanisms of feelings: When examining a patient's nervous system, a physician usually includes polysensory tests of touch, position, pain, and reactions to vibrations as the following examples show:

• Light touch with a piece of cotton when the patient's eyes are closed.
• Pin punctures to test pain sensations at different parts of the patient's body
• Pain pinch by squeezing, with a finger and a thumb, the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel.
• Vibration with a tuning fork held against a prominent bone of the ankle or another bone.
• Position sense when the patient, with eyes closed, says in which direction his or her finger is moved by the physician.
• Two-point discrimination which measures the ability of the patient to distinguish between two sharp pains and a single sharp pain.

1. The written results monitored by equipment that tests the physiological activity of a person while sleeping: "Dr. Black looked at the polysomnogram which showed the results of Sally's body functions while she was sleeping and told her to stay home and to take her medicine and rest."
2. Etymology: from Greek poly-, "much, many" + Latin somnus, "sleep" + Greek gram, "written, recorded".

The recorded results of recordings during sleep of multiple physiological variables: Polysomnography is a comprehensive recording of the physiological changes that take place with a person during his or her sleep.

A sleep specialist who monitors sleep studies and records the relevant physiologic variables: After a test is completed, a polysomnographic technologist analyzes the recorded data by checking for breathing irregularities, sudden changes in brain-wave activity, cardiac rhythm abnormalities, leg movements, body positions, and oxygen saturation during the patient's sleep.

Continuous measurement and recording of relevant normal and abnormal physiological activities during sleep: A recording of polysomnography has several physiological variables, both directly and indirectly related to the state and stages of sleep, to determine all possible biological causes of sleep disorders.

Usually, respiration, oxygen saturation, body position, and other factors are also measured during the polysomnography; including, the brain, eye movements, muscle or skeletal muscle motions, and heart rhythms.

Relating to the penetration of multiple sperms (spermatozoa) into a single ovum at the time of fertilization.

The fertilization of an ovum by multiple spermatozoa.

A sporangium (structure in which spores are produced) containing numerous spores.

A reference to a stem or root: having more than one internal vascular cylinder or stele.

A reference to organisms that only live in oceanic waters of comparatively unchanging high salinity: Polystenohaline plants and animals exist best in sea water with a consistent and great amount of saltiness.

Having more than one row of eyelashes on a single eyelid.