polygamous

2 definitions found

polygamous - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Polygamous \Po*lyg"a*mous\, a. [Gr. ? living ? polygamy; poly`s
     many + ? marriage. Cf. Bigamy.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. Of or pertaining to polygamy; characterized by, or
        involving, polygamy; having a plurality of wives; as,
        polygamous marriages; -- opposed to monogamous.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) Pairing with more than one female.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Most deer, cattle, and sheep are polygamous.
                                                    --Darwin.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Bot.) Belonging to the Polygamia; bearing both
        hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant.
        [1913 Webster]

polygamous - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  polygamous
      adj 1: having more than one mate at a time; used of
             relationships and individuals [ant: monogamous]
      2: having several forms of gametoecia on the same plant [syn:
         heteroicous, polyoicous, polygamous]