polynomial

[ pol-uh-noh-mee-uhl ]

/ ˌpɒl əˈnoʊ mi əl /

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adjective

consisting of or characterized by two or more names or terms.

noun

Algebra.

(in one variable) an expression consisting of the sum of two or more terms each of which is the product of a constant and a variable raised to an integral power: ax2 + bx + c is a polynomial, where a, b, and c are constants and x is a variable.
a similar expression in more than one variable, as 4x2y3 − 3xy + 5x + 7.
Now Rare.Also called multinomial. any expression consisting of the sum of two or more terms, as 4x3 + cos x.

a polynomial name or term.

Biology. a species name containing more than two terms.

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Origin of polynomial

First recorded in 1665–75; poly- + (bi)nomial

Words nearby polynomial

polymyxin, Polynesia, Polynesian, polyneuritis, Polynices, polynomial, polynomial ring, polynuclear, polynucleotide, polynya, polyol

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polynomial in a sentence

Of course, the polynomial at issue in the proof is much more complicated than that.
Tetrahedron Solutions Finally Proved Decades After Computer Search|Kevin Hartnett|February 2, 2021|Quanta Magazine
To solve those in a similar way, Wolfson thought, you could replace that cubic surface with some higher-dimensional “hypersurface” formed by those higher-degree polynomials in many variables.
Mathematicians Resurrect Hilbert’s 13th Problem|Stephen Ornes|January 14, 2021|Quanta Magazine
In July, three computer scientists used a mathematical discipline called the geometry of polynomials to show that a modern algorithm is guaranteed to be at least infinitesimally more efficient than the long-standing best method.
The Year in Math and Computer Science|Bill Andrews|December 23, 2020|Quanta Magazine
The only multilinear maps researchers knew how to build securely were those that computed polynomials of degree 2 or less.
Computer Scientists Achieve ‘Crown Jewel’ of Cryptography|Erica Klarreich|November 10, 2020|Quanta Magazine

A second-order polynomial adds a term with x squared, third-order with x cubed, and so on.
Doubts over a ‘possible sign of life’ on Venus show how science works|Lisa Grossman|October 28, 2020|Science News
The two dots at the end are frequently omitted when the part affected includes all the terms of the polynomial to the end.
William Oughtred|Florian Cajori
It was natural to inquire whether a similar theorem holds for integrals ∫R(s, z)dz wherein s is a cubic polynomial in z.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various
The last case arises when we consider the finite values of z for which the polynomial coefficient of sn vanishes.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various
But the polynomial method as a system was of short duration.
A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 1 (of 2)|David Starr Jordan
This polynomial expression was shortened by Linnæus to Zeus faber.
A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 1 (of 2)|David Starr Jordan

British Dictionary definitions for polynomial

polynomial

/ (ˌpɒlɪˈnəʊmɪəl) /

adjective

of, consisting of, or referring to two or more names or terms

noun

a mathematical expression consisting of a sum of terms each of which is the product of a constant and one or more variables raised to a positive or zero integral power. For one variable, x, the general form is given by: a 0 x n + a 1 x n –1 + … + a n –1 x + a n, where a 0, a 1, etc, are real numbers
Also called: multinomial any mathematical expression consisting of the sum of a number of terms

biology a taxonomic name consisting of more than two terms, such as Parus major minor in which minor designates the subspecies

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

Scientific definitions for polynomial

polynomial

[ pŏl′ē-nō′mē-əl ]

An algebraic expression that is the sum of two or more monomials. The expressions x2 - 4 and 5x4 + 2x3 - x + 7 are both polynomials.