poly

¹ American  

[pol-ee] / ˈpɒl i /

noun

PLURAL

polies

1. Informal.  polyester.

   a blend of poly and cotton.

2. a fabric or garment made of polyester.

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adjective

1. made of or containing polyester.

   a poly swimsuit.

poly ² American  

[pol-ee] / ˈpɒl i /

adjective

Informal.

1. noting or relating to polyamory; polyamorous.

   They’re in a poly relationship.

2. identifying as polyamorous.

   They’re not monogamous, they’re poly.

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poly- ³ American  

1. a combining form with the meanings “much, many” and, in chemistry, “polymeric,” used in the formation of compound words.

   polyandrous; polyculture; polyethylene.

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poly. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. polytechnic.

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poly ¹ British  

/ ˈpɒlɪ /

noun

1. informal  short for polytechnic

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adjective

1. informal  short for polyester

2. informal  short for polythene

poly- ² British  

combining form

1. more than one; many or much

   polyhedron

2. having an excessive or abnormal number or amount

   polycythaemia

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poly– Scientific  

1. 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).

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Usage

What does poly- mean? Poly- is a combining form with multiple meanings. In many terms, it is used like a prefix meaning “much, many.” In terms from chemistry, it denotes "polymeric," meaning "of or relating to a polymer." It is often used in a variety of scientific and technical terms, especially in biology.Poly- comes from Greek polýs, meaning “many.” The Latin equivalent of polýs is multus, also meaning both “much” and “many,” which is the source of the combining form multi-. To learn more, check out our Words That Use article about multi-.

Etymology

Origin of poly¹

By shortening

Origin of poly¹

First recorded in 1990–95; shortening of polyamorous ( def. )

Origin of poly-¹

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

Example Sentences

It was redemption for Cypress, which had lost to Bishop Diego in the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals and to Long Beach Poly in the first round of the Division II regionals last season.

From Los Angeles Times

This is the first time Mater Dei or St. John Bosco have not played in a final since 2012 when Long Beach Poly won the title.

From Los Angeles Times

Cannon said he has seen his department whittled to a “skeleton crew” since he joined Cal Poly Humboldt in 2006.

From Los Angeles Times

Loren Cannon, a philosophy lecturer at Cal Poly Humboldt and California Faculty Assn. bargaining team member, called the board’s decision a “distributive injustice” — especially at a time when many employees are struggling to make ends meet.

From Los Angeles Times

Utupo came from Lakewood this season to be head coach for a Long Beach Poly program that has won 20 CIF titles.

From Los Angeles Times