polycyclic

[pol-ee-sahy-klik, -sik-lik]

adjective

Chemistry.

1. pertaining to an organic compound containing several atomic rings, usually fused.

polycyclic

/ ˌpɒlɪˈsaɪklɪk /

adjective

1. (of a molecule or compound) containing or having molecules that contain two or more closed rings of atoms

2. biology having two or more rings or whorls

   polycyclic shells

   a polycyclic stele

noun

1. a polycyclic compound

   anthracene is a polycyclic

polycyclic

1. Having two or more atomic rings in a molecule. Steroids are polycyclic compounds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polycyclic¹

First recorded in 1865–70; poly- + cyclic

Example Sentences

One weekend I sat next to a campfire, and as I admired the dancing flames, I also imagined the benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons the fire was stripping from the wood and whispering into the air for me to inhale.

From Los Angeles Times

The board soon had reams of public data for beaches from Las Flores Creek in Malibu to Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey, showing results for dozens of different contaminants, including heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenol and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

From Los Angeles Times

Another had high levels of a class of contaminants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause headaches, coughing, skin irritation and, over long periods of exposure, can come with an increased risk of cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

“Samples from nearly a dozen beaches along the L.A. County coastline were tested for metals — polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — which are chemicals that may be found in runoff after wildfires,” the county Department of Beaches and Harbors said in a news release.

From Los Angeles Times

Both areas were tested for metals, nutrients, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are all chemicals that may be found in water runoff based on previous California wildfires, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times