5 definitions found for polyvalent

polyvalent adj 1: containing several antibodies each capable of counteracting a specific antigen; "a polyvalent vaccine" [ant: monovalent] 2: having more than one valence, or having a valence of 3 or higher [syn: polyvalent, multivalent] [ant: monovalent, univalent]

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 vaccines> • polyvalence noun

polyvalent
adj. Chem. having a valency of more than two, or several valencies.
Derivatives:
polyvalence n.

polyvalent pɔˈlɪvələnt adj. Chem. having a valency of more than two, or several valencies. øøpolyvalence n.

Polyvalent Po*lyv"a*lent, a. [Poly- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valent.] (Chem.) Multivalent.