polynomial

[ pol-uh-noh-mee-uh l ]
/ ˌpɒl əˈnoʊ mi əl /

adjective

consisting of or characterized by two or more names or terms.

noun

Algebra.
  1. (in one variable) an expression consisting of the sum of two or more terms each of which is the product of a constant and a variable raised to an integral power: ax2 + bx + c is a polynomial, where a, b, and c are constants and x is a variable.
  2. a similar expression in more than one variable, as 4x2y3 − 3xy + 5x + 7.
  3. Now Rare.Also called multinomial. any expression consisting of the sum of two or more terms, as 4x3 + cos x.
a polynomial name or term.
Biology. a species name containing more than two terms.

Origin of polynomial

First recorded in 1665–75; poly- + (bi)nomial

Words nearby polynomial

polyneuralgia, polyneuritic psychosis, polyneuritis, polyneuropathy, polynices, polynomial, polynomial ring, polynuclear, polynucleotidase, polynucleotide, polynya

Example sentences from the Web for polynomial

British Dictionary definitions for polynomial

polynomial
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈnəʊmɪəl) /

adjective

of, consisting of, or referring to two or more names or terms

noun

  1. a mathematical expression consisting of a sum of terms each of which is the product of a constant and one or more variables raised to a positive or zero integral power. For one variable, x, the general form is given by: a 0 x n + a 1 x n –1 + … + a n –1 x + a n, where a 0, a 1, etc, are real numbers
  2. Also called: multinomial any mathematical expression consisting of the sum of a number of terms
biology a taxonomic name consisting of more than two terms, such as Parus major minor in which minor designates the subspecies

Scientific definitions for polynomial

polynomial
[ pŏl′ē-nō′mē-əl ]

An algebraic expression that is the sum of two or more monomials. The expressions x2 - 4 and 5x4 + 2x3 - x + 7 are both polynomials.