n. [ L. polypus, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, literally, many-footed; poly`s many + &unr_;, &unr_;, foot: cf. F. polype. See Poly- and Foot, and cf. Polypode, Polypody, Poulp. ] (Zool.) (a) One of the feeding or nutritive zooids of a hydroid or coral. (b) One of the Anthozoa. (c) pl. Same as Anthozoa. See Anthozoa, Madreporaria, Hydroid. [ Written also polype. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fresh-water polyp, the hydra. --
Polyp stem (Zool.), that portion of the stem of a siphonophore which bears the polypites, or feeding zooids. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Poly- + L. parere to produce. ] Producing or bearing a great number; bringing forth many. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Polyparies [ See Polyp. ] (Zool.) Same as Polypidom. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] (Zool.) See Polyp. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to a polyp, or polyps. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Polyp + Gr. &unr_; red. ] (Physiol. Chem.) A coloring matter found in many simple Anthozoa and some hydroids. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Poly- + petal. ] (Bot.) Consisting of, or having, several or many separate petals; as, a polypetalous corolla, flower, or plant. Martyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. polyphagus, Gr. &unr_;; poly`s much, many + &unr_; to eat: cf. F. polyphage. ] Eating, or subsisting on, many kinds of food; as, polyphagous animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The practice or faculty of subsisting on many kinds of food. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Poly- + Gr. &unr_; the using of medicine, fr. &unr_; medicine: cf. F. polypharmacie. ] (Med.) (a) The act or practice of prescribing too many medicines. (b) A prescription made up of many medicines or ingredients. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Poly- + phase. ] (Elec.) Having or producing two or more phases; multiphase; as, a polyphase machine, a machine producing two or more pressure waves of electro-motive force, differing in phase; a polyphase current. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Elec.) A machine generating more than one pressure wave; a multiphaser. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. Polyphemus the one-eyed Cyclops who was blinded by Ulysses. ] (Zool.) A very large American moth (Telea polyphemus) belonging to the Silkworm family (Bombycidæ). Its larva, which is very large, bright green, with silvery tubercles, and with oblique white stripes on the sides, feeds on the oak, chestnut, willow, cherry, apple, and other trees. It produces a large amount of strong silk. Called also American silkworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A character or vocal sign representing more than one sound, as read, which is pronounced rēd or r&ebreve_;d. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;; poly`s many + &unr_; sound: cf. F. polyphone. ] 1. Having a multiplicity of sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characterized by polyphony; as, Assyrian polyphonic characters. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) Consisting of several tone series, or melodic parts, progressing simultaneously according to the laws of counterpoint; contrapuntal; as, a polyphonic composition; -- opposed to homophonic, or monodic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Polyphony. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A proficient in the art of multiplying sounds; a ventriloquist. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) A master of polyphony; a contrapuntist. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Polyphonic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Plurality of sounds and articulations expressed by the same vocal sign. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) Composition in mutually related, equally important parts which share the melody among them; contrapuntal composition; -- opposed to homophony, in which the melody is given to one part only, the others filling out the harmony. See Counterpoint. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Poly- + Gr. fe`rein to bear. ] (Bot.) A receptacle which bears many ovaries. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , a. [ Poly- + Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, light. ] (Elec.) Pertaining to or designating arc lamps so constructed that more than one can be used on a single circuit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Poly- + Gr. &unr_; clan. ] (Biol.) Pertaining to, or characterized by, descent from more than one root form, or from many different root forms; polygenetic; -- opposed to monophyletic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;; poly`s many + &unr_; leaf. ] (Bot.) Many-leaved; as, a polyphyllous calyx or perianth. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) The Anthozoa. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of the ordinary zooids of the Bryozoa. [ Spellt also polypid. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Polypus + L. domus house. ] (Zool.) A coral, or corallum; also, one of the coral-like structure made by bryozoans and hydroids. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A polypidom. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) The Anthozoa. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Polypus + -ferous. ] (Zool.) Bearing polyps, or polypites. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Polypus + L. parere to produce. ] (Zool.) Producing polyps. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Zool.) (a) One of the feeding zooids, or polyps, of a coral, hydroid, or siphonophore; a hydranth. See Illust. of Campanularian. (b) Sometimes, the manubrium of a hydroid medusa. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Paleon.) A fossil coral. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Poly-, and Placophora. ] (Zool.) See Placophora. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Poly- + -plastic. ] (Biol.) Assuming, or having the power of assuming, many forms; as, a polyplastic element which does not preserve its original shape. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. polypode. See Polypody. ] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Polypodium; polypody. [ Written also polypod. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, the wood louse, milleped: cf. F. polypode. See Polyp. ] (Zool.) An animal having many feet; a myriapod. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;, dim. of &unr_;. See Polyp, and cf. 2d Polypode. ] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the order Filices or ferns. The fructifications are in uncovered roundish points, called sori, scattered over the inferior surface of the frond or leaf. There are numerous species. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Polypodium. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Polyp + -oid. ] 1. (Zool.) Like a polyp; having the nature of a polyp, but lacking the tentacles or other parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) Resembling a polypus in appearance; having a character like that of a polypus. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Polyp, and Medusa. ] (Zool.) Same as Hydrozoa. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Poly- + porous. ] Having many pores. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Polypori [ NL., fr. Gr. poly`s many + &unr_; a pore. ] (Bot.) A genus of fungi having the under surface full of minute pores; also, any fungus of this genus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Polyporus fomentarius was formerly dried and cut in slices for tinder, called amadou. Polyporus betulinus is common in America, and forms very large thick white semicircular excrescences on birch trees. Several species of Polyporous are considered edible. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. polypeux. See Polyp. ] Of the nature of a polypus; having many feet or roots, like the polypus; affected with polypus. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Poly- + pragmatic, -ical. ] Overbusy; officious. [ R. ] Heywood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Poly- + Gr. &unr_; business. ] The state of being overbusy. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. poly`s many + &unr_; first + &unr_;, &unr_;, tooth. ] (Zool.) A division of marsupials in which there are more fore incisor teeth in each jaw. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Polypterus, and -oid. ] (Zool.) A suborder of existing ganoid fishes having numerous fins along the back. The bichir, or Polypterus, is the type. See Illust. under Crossopterygian. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. poly`s many + &unr_; feather, wing. ] (Zool.) An African genus of ganoid fishes including the bichir. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_; having, or being in, many cases; poly`s many + &unr_; case. ] (Rhet.) A figure by which a word is repeated in different forms, cases, numbers, genders, etc., as in Tennyson's line, -- “My own heart's heart, and ownest own, farewell.” [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. E. Polypuses L. Polypi [ L. See Polyp. ] 1. (Zool.) Same as Polyp. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A tumor, usually with a narrow base, somewhat resembling a pear, -- found in the nose, uterus, etc., and produced by hypertrophy of some portion of the mucous membrane. [ 1913 Webster ]