polycyclic

[ pol-ee-sahy-klik, -sik-lik ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈsaɪ klɪk, -ˈsɪk lɪk /

adjective Chemistry.

pertaining to an organic compound containing several atomic rings, usually fused.

Origin of polycyclic

First recorded in 1865–70; poly- + cyclic

Words nearby polycyclic

polycrotic, polycrotism, polycrystal, polycrystalline, polyculture, polycyclic, polycyesis, polycystic, polycystic kidney, polycystic liver, polycystic ovary syndrome

Example sentences from the Web for polycyclic

  • Pierced Roger's polycyclic screen; exposed the bare metal of Roger's walls!

    Triplanetary |Edward Elmer Smith

  • That must be that polycyclic screen that Conway reported on.

    Triplanetary |Edward Elmer Smith

British Dictionary definitions for polycyclic

polycyclic
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈsaɪklɪk) /

adjective

(of a molecule or compound) containing or having molecules that contain two or more closed rings of atoms
biology having two or more rings or whorls polycyclic shells; a polycyclic stele

noun

a polycyclic compound anthracene is a polycyclic

Scientific definitions for polycyclic

polycyclic
[ pŏl′ĭ-sī′klĭk, -sĭk′lĭk ]

Having two or more atomic rings in a molecule. Steroids are polycyclic compounds.