Polyvalent

Polyvalent

Polyvalent is a synonym for multivalent and denotes something which has many values, meanings or appeals. The metaphoric origin of is derived from valency in chemistry and by metaphoric attribution, may now a "subtle, polyvalent allegory". In chemistry the terms polyvalent or multivalent can be used to refer to species which are not univalent or monovalent. For example, the Cs+ cation is a univalent or monovalent cation, whereas the Ca++ cation is a divalent or polyvalent or multivalent cation and the Fe+++ cation is a trivalent or polyvalent or multivalent cation. As a result, examples of polyvalent cations include the Ca++ cation and the Fe+++ cation. [Since 1976, there have been 21,637 US patents issued that employ the terms polyvalent or poly-valent in connection with concepts like polyvalent cations and polyvalent ligands as disclosed above . US Patent 7,375,234 is one example of these 21,637 recent US patents.]

Specific uses may refer to:
* Polysemy
* Polyvalent vaccine, a vaccine that can vaccinate a person against more than one strain of a disease
* Antivenins are classified as polyvalent when they are effective against a range of species, or several different species at the same time


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  • polyvalent — polyvalent, ente [ pɔlivalɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1902; de poly et lat. valens 1 ♦ Méd. Se dit d un sérum ou d un vaccin qui protège contre plusieurs micro organismes pathogènes. 2 ♦ Chim. Qui possède plusieurs valences. ⇒ plurivalent. Radical… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Polyvalent — Po*lyv a*lent, a. [Poly + L. valens, p. pr. See {Valent}.] (Chem.) Multivalent. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • polyvalent — polyvalent. См. поливалент. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • polyvalent — polyvalent. = multivalent (см.). (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • polyvalent — 1881, from POLY (Cf. poly ) + valent, from L. valentem, prp. of valere be worth (see VALIANT (Cf. valiant)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • polyvalent — [päl΄i vā′lənt] adj. 1. Bacteriology designating a vaccine effective against many strains of the same species of microorganism 2. Chem. a) having a valence of more than two b) having more than one valence polyvalence n …   English World dictionary

  • polyvalent — adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1881 1. having a chemical valence greater usually than two 2. effective against, sensitive toward, or counteracting more than one toxin, microorganism, or antigen < polyvalent… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • polyvalent — 1. SYN: multivalent. 2. Pertaining to a p. antiserum. * * * poly·va·lent .päl i vā lənt adj 1 a) having a chemical valence greater usu. than two b) having variable valence 2) effective against, sensitive toward, or counteracting more than one… …   Medical dictionary

  • polyvalent crotaline antivenin — a. (Crotalidae) polyvalent …   Medical dictionary

  • polyvalent — polyvalence, n. /pol ee vay leuhnt, peuh liv euh leuhnt/, adj. 1. Chem. having more than one valence. 2. Bacteriol. (of an immune serum) containing several antibodies, each capable of reacting with a specific antigen. [1880 85; POLY + VALENT] * * …   Universalium

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