Poly

For the prefix poly- and words related to it see Wiktionary.

Poly can have multiple meanings:

  • As a prefix, often meaning more than one or many (eg, polyvalent - capable of many valences)
  • As a feminine given name (Poly, also spelled Polly). Sometimes also used as a nickname for surnames such as "Polyblank"

Poly is also commonly used as an abbreviation for various words and phrases including:

Science and technology
  • Polyethylene, polyurethane and polyester, all forms of plastic polymers
  • Polysilicon, a state of silicon used as a gate material in MOSFET transistors and CMOS microchips
  • Polystyrene, aromatic polymer made from the aromatic monomer styrene
  • Poly-A, a step in the transcription of DNA to RNA in which multiple adenosine nucleosides are added to the 3' end of the mRNA sequence.
  • Polymorphism, polymorphism describes multiple possible states for a single property
  • Polyphenol, a class of biological molecules
  • Polyspheric, a shape composed of more than one sphere, a term used by Chrysler to identify their hemi-derived but lower cost V8 engines built 1955-67
  • Polygraph, or "lie detector" (particularly in Defense & Intelligence fields)
Mathematics and logic
  • Polygon, especially in relation to 3D graphics as used in terms such as high-poly
  • Polynomial, a type of mathematical function
Other

See also