New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Polyphyletic — Pol y*phy*let ic, a. [Poly + Gr. ? clan.] (Biol.) Pertaining to, or characterized by, descent from more than one root form, or from many different root forms; polygenetic; opposed to {monophyletic}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
polyphyletic — [päl΄i fī let′ik] adj. [ POLY + PHYLETIC] Biol. derived from more than one ancestral type polyphyletically adv … English World dictionary
polyphyletic — 1. Derived from more than one source, or having several lines of descent, in contrast to monophyletic. 2. In hematology, relating to polyphyletism. * * * poly·phy·let·ic .päl i (.)fī let ik adj of or relating to more than one stock specif derived … Medical dictionary
polyphyletic theory — n a theory in physiology: the several cellular elements of the blood originate in two or more distinct stem cells compare MONOPHYLETIC THEORY * * * the theory that the various blood cells have their origin from two or more types of stem cells. Cf … Medical dictionary
polyphyletic — having more than one origin or lines of descent, not closely related. Species may be grouped polyphyletically as a convenience until a monophyletic classification can be made … Dictionary of ichthyology
polyphyletic — adj. [Gr. polys, many; phyle, tribe] 1. Of mixed evolutionary origin, not derived from a common ancestor. 2. Pertaining to a group whose most recent common ancestor is not cladistically a member of that group. 3. Pleophyletic … Dictionary of invertebrate zoology
polyphyletic — polyphyletically, adv. /pol ee fuy let ik/, adj. developed from more than one ancestral type, as a group of animals. [1870 75; POLY + PHYLETIC] * * * … Universalium
polyphyletic — adjective Having multiple ancestral sources; referring to a taxon that does not contain the most recent common ancestor of its members. See Also: monophyletic, paraphyletic … Wiktionary
polyphyletic — pÉ‘lɪfaɪletɪk / pÉ’l adj. having more than one ancestral type … English contemporary dictionary
polyphyletic — [ˌpɒlɪfʌɪ lɛtɪk] adjective Biology (of a group of organisms) derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group … English new terms dictionary
