An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

A one-dimensional closed figure consisting of a series of points, each of which is called a → vertex, and the line segments, called → sides, joining the vertices. Polygons of three sides are called → triangles, and of four sides → quadrilaterals.

→ poly- + → -gon.

1) Geometry: A three-dimensional figure formed by several → polygons.
2) A set P ⊆ ℜⁿ is a polyhedron if there is a system of finitely many unequalities Ax ≤ b such that P = {x ∈ ℜⁿ | Ax ≤ b}.

→ poly-; → hedron.

1) A mathematical expression involving a sum of powers in one or more variables multiplied by coefficients.
2) Consisting of or characterized by two or more terms or names.

From → poly- + (bi)nomial, contraction of → nominal.

An equation of the form a₀ + a₁x + a₂x² + ... + a_nxⁿ, where a₀ ... a_n are → real numbers and a_n≠ 0. Same as → algebraic equation.

→ polynomial; → equation.

Diversity of meanings.

From N.L. polysemia, from L. polysemus "with many significations" (from Gk. polysemos, from → poly- + sem, from sema "sign," → semantic, + adj. suffix -os), + -ia.

Bolcemi, from bol, → poly-, + cem, → meaning, + noun suffix -i.

The doctrine of or belief in more than one god or in many gods (Dictionary.com). → polydeism.

→ poly-; → theism.

In astrophysics, a gaseous sphere in hydrodynamic equilibrium in which the pressure and density are related by the equation P = Kρ^(n+1)/n at each point along the radius, where K is a constant and n is the → polytropic index. The constant K depends upon the nature of the polytrope. Before the advent of computing technology, the theory of polytropes played an important role in physically modeling the structure of stars. → Lane-Emden equation.

Polytrope, from → poly- + trope, from → -tropic.

Bolgašt, from bol-, → poly-, + gašt "change, alteration," → -tropic.

1) Math.: Describing a function which has different values for one variable.
2) Thermodynamics: Pertaining to pressure and volume change that maintains specific heat. → polytropic process.

→ poly- + → -tropic.

A change in the → pressure or → volume of a → gas in a → polytropic process.

→ polytropic; → change.

A gas capable of undergoing a → polytropic process.

→ polytropic; → gas.

A number appearing in the equation describing a → polytropic process.

→ polytropic; → index.

A thermodynamic process that obeys the relation: PVⁿ = C, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is any real number, called the → polytropic index, and C is a constant.
If n = 0, then P = C and it is an → isobaric process.
If n = 1, then for an → ideal gas PV = NkT = C and it is an → isothermal process.
If n = γ, → adiabatic index, then for an ideal gas it is an → adiabatic process.

→ polytropic; → process.

1) Chem.: Having more than one → valence.
2) → polyvalent logic.

→ poly-; → valence.

A system of logic with more than two → truth values, as opposed to → classical logic. A polyvalent logic may have a continuous scale of values with → true and → false as limiting → extremes.

→ polyvalent; → logic.

1) Any combination of resources put together to be shared in community, such as memory pool, storage pool.
2) To combine into a common fund, as for a joint enterprise.

1) M.E., O.E. pol, akin to Du. poel, O.H.G. pfuol, Ger. Pfuhl "puddle."
2) Verb from M.Fr. poule (literally "hen") "the receptacle for the stakes played for in certain games with cards, the collective stakes of the players at these games," from M.L. pulla "hen," from L. pullus "young animal," related to L. putus, putillus "small boy," puer "son, boy;" Av. puθra- "son;" O.Pers. puça- "son;" Mod.Pers. pur, pesar "son, boy;" cf. Skt. putrá- "son, child, young of an animal."

Kul "pond, pool, reservoir," variants kulâb, qulé, farqar, related to kulidan "to dig, excavate," Mid.Pers. kwl "pit, sink, cavity."

The act or result of putting resources into a pool or common stock by agreement.

Verbal noun of → pool.

Lacking an expected supply of something specified.

M.E. pov(e)re, from O.Fr. povre, from L. pauper "poor," perhaps a compound of paucus "little" and parare "to get."

Kam "little, few; deficient, wanting; scarce" (Mid.Pers. kam "little, small, few;" O.Pers./Av. kamna- "small, few," related to keh "small, little, slender" (related to kâstan, kâhidan "to decrease, lessen, diminish," from Mid.Pers. kâhitan, kâstan, kâhênitan "to decrease, diminish, lessen;" Av. kasu- "small, little;" Proto-Iranian *kas- "to be small, diminish, lessen") kamdâr, literally "having little possession," from kam + dâr "having, possessor," from dâštan "to have, to possess," Mid.Pers. dâštan; O.Pers./Av. root dar- "to hold, keep back, maintain, keep in mind;" Skt. dhr-, dharma- "law;" Gk. thronos "elevated seat, throne;" L. firmus "firm, stable;" Lith. daryti "to make;" PIE *dher- "to hold, support."

1) Accepted, followed, used, or done by many people.
2) Of, relating to, or coming from most of the people in a country, society, or group (Merriam-Webster.com).

M.E., from M.Fr. populier, from L. popularis "belonging to the people, general, common; devoted to or accepted by the people; democratic," from populus "people," → population.

Mardom-pasand, from mardom, → people, + pasand agent noun from pasandidan "to approve, cherish;" Mid.Pers. passandidan "to like, approve, appreciate;" ultimately from Proto-Ir. *pati-sand- "to appreciate; "from *sand- "to appear, seem (good);" cf. Av. sənd- "to appear; seem (good);" O.Pers. θand- "to seem;" Skt. chand- "to appear, to please;" L. censo "I approve, judge." Mardomâné from mardom + -âné suffix with several significations: similarity, manner, ability, suitability, property, possession, etc., from Mid.Pers. -ânag.

The act of popularizing.

→ popularize; → -tion.

1) To make popular; make attractive to the general public.
2) To make (a scientific or academic subject) accessible to the general public by presenting it in an understandable form (OxfordDictionaries.com).

→ popular; → -ize.