/pol'euh noh"mee euhl/ , adj.
1. consisting of or characterized by two or more names or terms.
n.
2. Algebra.
a. (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: ax 2 + bx + c is a polynomial, where a, b, and c are constants and x is a variable.
b. a similar expression in more than one variable, as 4 x 2 y 3 - 3 xy + 5 x + 7.
c. Now Rare. Also called multinomial . any expression consisting of the sum of two or more terms, as 4 x 3 + cos x.
3. a polynomial name or term.
4. Biol. a species name containing more than two terms.
[ 1665-75; POLY- + (BI)NOMIAL ]