poly

1
[ pol-ee ]
/ ˈpɒl i /

noun, plural pol·ies.

Informal. polyester (def. 2):a blend of poly and cotton.
a fabric or garment made of polyester.

adjective

made of or containing polyester: a poly swimsuit.

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Origin of poly

1
by shortening

Words nearby poly

Pol Pot, Polska, Poltava, poltergeist, poltroon, poly, polyacid, polyacrylamide, polyacrylamide gel, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, polyacrylic acid

Definition for poly (2 of 4)

poly2
[ pol-ee ]
/ ˈpɒl i /

adjective Informal.

noting or relating to polyamory; polyamorous: They’re in a poly relationship.
identifying as polyamorous: They’re not monogamous, they’re poly.

Origin of poly

2
First recorded in 1990–95; shortening of polyamorous

Definition for poly (3 of 4)

poly-

a combining form with the meanings “much, many” and, in chemistry, “polymeric,” used in the formation of compound words: polyandrous; polyculture; polyethylene.

Origin of poly-

<Greek, combining form representing polýs; akin to Old English fela many. See plus

Definition for poly (4 of 4)

poly.

polytechnic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for poly

British Dictionary definitions for poly (1 of 2)

poly
/ (ˈpɒlɪ) /

noun plural polys

informal short for polytechnic

adjective

informal short for polyester
informal short for polythene

British Dictionary definitions for poly (2 of 2)

poly-

combining form

more than one; many or muchpolyhedron
having an excessive or abnormal number or amountpolycythaemia

Word Origin for poly-

from Greek polus much, many; related to Old English fela many
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for poly

poly-

pref.

More than one; many; much:polyatomic.
More than usual; excessive; abnormal:polydipsia.
Polymer; polymeric:polyethylene.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for poly

poly-

A prefix meaning “many,” as in polygon, a figure having many sides. In chemistry, it is used to form the names of polymers by being attached to the name of the base unit of which the polymer is made, as in polysaccharide, a polymer made of repeating simple sugars (monosaccharides).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.