POLYVALENCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does polyvalence mean? 

• POLYVALENCE (noun)
  The noun POLYVALENCE has 2 senses:

1. (chemistry) the state of having a valence greater than two

2. (toxicology) the state of being capable of counteracting more than one toxin or antigen or kind of microorganism

  Familiarity information: POLYVALENCE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POLYVALENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(chemistry) the state of having a valence greater than two

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

multivalence; multivalency; polyvalence; polyvalency

Hypernyms ("polyvalence" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Derivation:

polyvalent (having more than one valence, or having a valence of 3 or higher)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(toxicology) the state of being capable of counteracting more than one toxin or antigen or kind of microorganism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

polyvalence; polyvalency

Hypernyms ("polyvalence" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Domain category:

toxicology (the branch of pharmacology that deals with the nature and effects and treatments of poisons)

Derivation:

polyvalent (containing several antibodies each capable of counteracting a specific antigen)