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poly-

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polypropylene
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poly-

 
Use poly- in a Sentence
a combining form with the meanings “much, many” and, in chemistry, “polymeric,” used in the formation of compound words: polyandrous; polyculture; polyethylene.
Origin:
< Gk, comb. form repr. polýs; akin to OE fela many. See plus
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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polypropylene
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poly-  
pref.  

  1. More than one; many; much: polyatomic.

  2. More than usual; excessive; abnormal: polydipsia.

  3. Polymer; polymeric: polyethylene.


[Greek polu-, from polus, much, many; see pelə-1 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

poly- 
comb. form meaning "many, much," from Gk. poly-, combining form of polys "much" (plural polloi); cognate with L. plus, from PIE base *ple- (cf. Skt. purvi "much," prayah "mostly;" Avestan perena-, O.Pers. paru "much;" Gk. plethos "people, multitude, great number," pleres "full," polys "much, plenty," ploutos "wealth," plethein "be full;" Lith. pilus "full, abundant;" O.C.S. plunu; Goth. filu "much," O.N. fjöl-, O.E. fela, feola "much, many;" O.E. folgian; O.Ir. lan, Welsh llawn "full;" O.Ir. il, Welsh elu "much"), probably related to base *pele- "to spread."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

poly- pref.

  1. More than one; many; much: polyatomic.

  2. More than usual; excessive; abnormal: polydipsia.

  3. Polymer; polymeric: polyethylene.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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