| polyethylenes | Ethylene homopolymers. Synthetic thermoplastics that are tough, flexible, inert, and resistant to chemicals and electrical current. They are often used as biocompatible materials for prostheses and implants. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| polyfructose | A polysaccharide of fructose (e.g., inulin) containing small amounts of other sugars; present in certain tubers. Synonym: levan, levulan, levulin, levulosan, polyfructose. (05 Mar 2000) |
| polygalaceous | Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Polygalaceae) of which Polygala is the type. (01 Mar 1998) |
| polygalactia | Excessive secretion of breast milk, especially at the weaning period. Origin: poly-+ G. Gala, milk (05 Mar 2000) |
| polygalacturonan | Plant cell wall polysaccharide consisting predominantly of galacturonic acid. May also contain some rhamnose, arabinose and galactose. Those with significant amounts of rhamnose are termed rhamnogalacturonans. Found in the pectin fraction of the wall. (18 Nov 1997) |
| polygalacturonase | <enzyme> Enzyme that degrades polygalacturonan by hydrolysis of the glycosidic bonds that link galacturonic acid residues. Important in fruit ripening and in fungal and bacterial attack on plants. (18 Nov 1997) |
| polygalic | <chemistry> Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, Polygala; specifically, designating an acrid glucoside (called polygalic acid, senegin, etc), resembling, or possibly identical with, saponin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| polygamia | <botany> A Linnaean class of plants, characterised by having both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant. A name given by Linnaeus to file orders of plants having syngenesious flowers. Origin: NL. See Polygamous. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| polygamian | <botany> Polygamous. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| polygamodioecious | Having bisexual and male flowers on some plants, and bisexual and female flowers on others. (09 Oct 1997) |
| polygamomonoecious | Having bisexual and unisexual flowers on the same plant. (09 Oct 1997) |
| polygamous | 1. Of or pertaining to polygamy; characterised by, or involving, polygamy; having a plurality of wives; as, polygamous marriages; opposed to monogamous. 2. <zoology> Pairing with more than one female. "Most deer, cattle, and sheep are polygamous." (Darwin) 3. <botany> Belonging to the Polygamia; bearing both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant. Origin: Gr. Living polygamy; many + marriage. Cf. Bigamy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| polygamy | 1. The having of a plurality of wives or husbands at the same time; usually, the marriage of a man to more than one woman, or the practice of having several wives, at the same time; opposed to monogamy; as, the nations of the East practiced polygamy. See the Note under Bigamy, and cf. Polyandry. 2. <zoology> The state or habit of having more than one mate. 3. <botany> The condition or state of a plant which bears both perfect and unisexual flowers. Origin: Gr.; cf. F. Polygamie. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| polyganglionic | Containing or involving many ganglia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| polygastrian | <zoology> One of the Polygastrica. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |