polyvalent

[ pol-ee-vey-luh nt, puh-liv-uh-luh nt ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈveɪ lənt, pəˈlɪv ə lənt /

adjective

Chemistry. having more than one valence.
Bacteriology. (of an immune serum) containing several antibodies, each capable of reacting with a specific antigen.

Origin of polyvalent

First recorded in 1880–85; poly- + -valent

OTHER WORDS FROM polyvalent

pol·y·va·lence, noun

Words nearby polyvalent

polytypic, polyunsaturate, polyunsaturated, polyurethane, polyuria, polyvalent, polyvalent allergy, polyvalent serum, polyvalent vaccine, polyvinyl, polyvinyl acetal

British Dictionary definitions for polyvalence

polyvalent
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈveɪlənt, pəˈlɪvələnt) /

adjective

chem having more than one valency
(of a vaccine)
  1. effective against several strains of the same disease-producing microorganism, antigen, or toxin
  2. produced from cultures containing several strains of the same microorganism

Derived forms of polyvalent

polyvalency, noun

Medical definitions for polyvalence

polyvalent
[ pŏl′ē-vā′lənt ]

adj.

Acting against or interacting with more than one kind of antigen, antibody, toxin, or microorganism.
Having more than one chemical valence.

Other words from polyvalent

pol′y•va′lence null n.

Scientific definitions for polyvalence

polyvalent
[ pŏl′ē-vā′lənt ]

Acting against or interacting with more than one kind of antigen, antibody, toxin, or microorganism.
Having more than one valence. Iron and manganese are polyvalent elements.