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Poly vs Tri - What's the difference?

poly | tri |

As a noun poly

is dust.

As a numeral tri is

three.

As a preposition tri is

through.

poly

English

Etymology 1

Shortening of various words.

Noun

(polys)
  • polytechnic.
  • polyethylene (polythene)
  • (chiefly, computer graphics) polygon
  • (uncountable) polyester
    • a cotton-poly blend
  • (chiefly, informal) polyamory
  • (chiefly, informal) A polyamorous person.

    • Adjective

    (-)
  • (chiefly, informal) polyamorous

    • Verb

  • (transitive, video games, roguelikes) To polymorph; to transform by magic.

    • Etymology 2

    (etyl) (lena) polium, the name of a plant, perhaps Teucrium polium .

    Alternative forms

    * poley

    Noun

  • A whitish woolly plant () of the order Labiatae, found throughout the Mediterranean.

    • Usage notes

    * The name, with various prefixes, is sometimes given to other related species of the same genus.

    Derived terms

    * poly-mountain (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    *

    tri

    English

    Noun

  • (chiefly, attributive) triathlon
    • a tri bike
    a tri suit
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