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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



488 words match “POLY”

OCTAMEROUS a.
Having the parts in eights; as, an octamerous flower; octamerous mesenteries in polyps.
OTAHEITE APPLE n.
The fruit of a Polynesian anacardiaceous tree (Spondias dulcis), also called vi-apple. It is rather larger than an apple, and the rind has a flavor of turpentine, but the flesh is said to taste like pineapples.
PADDLEFISH n.
A large ganoid fish (Polyodon spathula) found in the rivers of the Mississippi Valley. It has a long spatula-shaped snout. Called also duck-billed cat, and spoonbill sturgeon.
PALOLO; PALOLO WORM n.
A polystome worm (Palolo viridis) that burrows in the coral reefs of certain of the Pacific Islands. A little before the last quarter of the moon in October and November, they swarm in vast numbers at the surface of the sea for breeding, and are gathered and highly esteemed as food by the natives. An allied species inh…
PARACYANOGEN n.
A polymeric modification of cyanogen, obtained as a brown or black amorphous residue by heating mercuric cyanide.
PARALDEHYDE n.
A polymeric modification of aldehyde obtained as a white crystalline substance.
PEACOCK n.
k pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus Polyplectron. They resemble the peacock in color.
PERSON n.
A shoot or bud of a plant; a polyp or zooid of the compound Hydrozoa Anthozoa, etc.; also, an individual, in the narrowest sense, among the higher animals. Haeckel. True corms, composed of united personæ . . . usually arise by gemmation, . . . yet in sponges and corals occasionally by fusion of several originally disti…
PHALANX n.
A group or bundle of stamens, as in polyadelphous flowers.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS n.
f the water in the cell, produces formaldehyde, the latter forming various sugars through polymerization. Vines suggests that the carbohydrates are secretion products of the chloroplasts, derived from decomposition of previously formed proteids. The food substances are usually quickly translocated, those that accumulat…
PLACOPHORA n.
Mollusca, including the chitons. The back is covered by eight shelly plates. Called also Polyplacophora. See Illust. under Chiton, and Isopleura.
PLASTERY a.
A combining form signifying developing, forming, growing; as, heteroplastic, monoplastic, polyplastic.
PLASTIC a.
a substance composed predominantly of a synthetic organic high polymer capable of being cast or molded; many varieties of plastic are used to produce articles of commerce (after 1900). [MW10 gives origin of word as 1905]
POLARCHY n.
See Polyarchy.
POLEY n.
See Poly.
POPPY n.
Any plant or species of the genus Papaver, herbs with showy polypetalous flowers and a milky juice. From one species (Papaver somniferum) opium is obtained, though all the species contain it to some extent; also, a flower of the plant. See Illust. of Capsule. California poppy (Bot.), any yellow-flowered plant of the ge…
PORTULACA n.
A genus of polypetalous plants; also, any plant of the genus.
POTICHE n.
A vase with a separate cover, the body usually rounded or polygonal in plan with nearly vertical sides, a neck of smaller size, and a rounded shoulder.
PRIMARY a.
f these the last two only are now in use. -- Primary salt (Chem.), a salt derived from a polybasic acid in which only one acid hydrogen atom has been replaced by a base or basic radical. -- Primary syphilis (Med.), the initial stage of syphilis, including the period from the development of the original lesion or chan…
PRINCE n.
gn. -- Prince's feather (Bot.), a name given to two annual herbs (Amarantus caudatus and Polygonum orientale), with apetalous reddish flowers arranged in long recurved panicled spikes. -- Prince's metal, Prince Rupert's metal. See under Metal. Prince's pine. (Bot.) See Pipsissewa.
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