poly

See also poly-

English

Etymology 1

Shortening of various words.

Noun

poly (plural polys)

1. polytechnic.
2. polyethylene (polythene)
3. (chiefly computer graphics) polygon
4. (uncountable) polyester

   a cotton-poly blend

5. (chiefly informal) polyamory
6. (chiefly informal) A polyamorous person.

Adjective

poly (not comparable)

1. Made of polyethylene (polythene).

   a poly bag

2. (chiefly informal) polyamorous

Etymology 2

Latin polium, the name of a plant, perhaps Teucrium polium.

Alternative forms

• poley

Noun

poly

1. A whitish woolly plant (Teucrium polium) of the order Labiatae, found throughout the Mediterranean.

Usage notes

• The name, with various prefixes, is sometimes given to other related species of the same genus.

Derived terms

• poly-mountain

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Anagrams

• ploy