[pley-tee] 
| (of an igneous rock) split into thin, flat sheets, often resembling strata, as a result of uneven cooling. |
[plat-ee] 
) plat⋅y, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) plat⋅ys, plat⋅ies. | platyfish. |
| plat·y 1 (plā'tē) adj. plat·i·er, plat·i·est Designating soil or minerals occurring in flaky layers. |
| plat·y 2 (plāt'ē) n. pl. plat·ys or plat·ies Any of several small freshwater live-bearing fishes of the genus Xiphophorus of southern North America popular in aquariums for their bright and variable colors. Also called platyfish. [Short for New Latin Platypoecilus, former genus name : platy- + Greek poikilos, many-colored; see peig- in Indo-European roots.] |
platy- pref.
Flat: platyhelminth.
platy
(species Xiphophorus maculatus), popular tropical aquarium fish of the live-bearer family, Poeciliidae (order Atheriniformes). The platy is a compact fish, about 5 cm (2 inches) long and extremely variable in colour. It has been bred in many attractive colour varieties, and, like the related swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) with which it has been crossed, has been used in a variety of genetic and medical studies
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