polyvalent
1
8.0
Containing several proteins that fight different germs
- adjective
- /ˌpɒliˈveɪlənt/
- Specialized
:
polivalente
- Researchers are developing a polyvalent serum that can neutralize several toxins simultaneously.
Examples
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This polyvalent antibody treatment offers patients a broader defense against varying infections.
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His texts would have been overlooked by subsequent academics not only because of their polyvalent literary and scientific registers, but also because they could not be summoned for the purposes of nation narration.
Academic text (2014) -
The new polyvalent vaccine is designed to protect against multiple strains of the virus.
Antonyms
How Broad
Surface Forms
polyvalent positive
Morphology
polyvalent = valent (transparent) = poly + valent
The meaning is directly compositional: 'poly-' means many and 'valent' refers to valence or combining capacity.
Etymology
Polyvalent comes from the parts poly- 'many' and -valent 'strong' or 'able to act', so a polyvalent vaccine or serum is one that works against many different germs or toxins.