pertaining to a molecule containing more than two atoms
Word origin
[1855–60; poly- + atomic]This word is first recorded in the period 1855–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: boilerplate, keyword, kickoff, pipeline, superheatpoly- is a combining form with the meanings “much, many” and, in chemistry, “polymeric,”used in the formation of compound words. Other words that use the affix poly- include: polyandrous, polyculture, polyethylene
Examples of 'polyatomic' in a sentence
polyatomic
Here we consider the dissociative recombination of larger polyatomic ions and electrons.
Pratt S.T., Jungen Ch. 2015, 'General features of the dissociative recombination of polyatomic molecules', EPJ Web of Conferenceshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20158404001. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
A number of thermosetting oligomers based on trifunctional polyatomic phenols have been synthesized.
Shapovalov Nikolay Afanasyevich, Poluektova Valentina Anatolyevna 2016, 'Features of nanomodifiers synthesis based on trifunctional oxyphenyls for mineralsuspensions', Nanotehnologii v Stroitelʹstvehttp://nanobuild.ru/en_EN/journal/Nanobuild-5-2016/100-115.pdf. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)