English dictionary · noun

polygraph

A device which measures and records several physiological variables such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and skin conductivity while a series of questions is being posed to a subject, in an attempt to detect deception.

Meaning and definitions

1. A device which measures and records several physiological variables such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and skin conductivity while a series of questions is being posed to a subject, in an attempt to detect deception.
2. A mechanical instrument for multiplying copies of a writing, resembling multiple pantographs.
3. A collection of different works, either by one or several authors.

Connected roots

• poly-

  many, much

• graph-

  writing, drawing

Explore the word family

These words share a recorded root connection. A shared root is a learning clue; it does not establish every step in a word’s history.

• photography

  The art and technology of producing images on photosensitive surfaces, and its digital counterpart.

• photograph

  a picture made using a camera

• telegraph

  a system for transmitting messages over distance by signals along a wire

• geography

  the study of the physical features of the earth

• biography

  an account of a person's life written by someone else

• bibliography

  a list of the books referred to in a scholarly work

• polymer

  A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.

• telegram

  A message transmitted by telegraph.

• choreography

  The art of creating, arranging and recording the dance movements of a work, such as a ballet.

• autograph

  a signature, especially that of a celebrity

• polytechnic

  That teaches applied arts, sciences, technology, engineering and other academic subjects.

• polynomial

  An expression consisting of a sum of a finite number of terms, each term being the product of a constant coefficient and one or more variables raised to a non-negative integer power, such as a_nxⁿ+a_n-1xⁿ⁻¹+...+a_0x⁰.

• hologram

  A three-dimensional image of an object created by holography.

• polygamy

  The condition of having more than one spouse or marriage partner at one time.

• holographic

  In the form of a hologram or holograph.

• polygon

  a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles

• monogram

  A sentence consisting of only one line, or an epigram consisting of only one verse, of poetry.

• typography

  The art or practice of setting and arranging type; typesetting.

• chromatography

  Any of various techniques for the qualitative or quantitative separation of the components of mixtures of compounds; all characterized by the use of a mobile phase (gas or liquid) moving relative to a stationary phase (liquid or solid) – the differences between the rates of migration of the compounds between the two phases affect the separation.

• cryptography

  The discipline that embodies the principles, means, and methods for transforming data to hide its semantic content, prevent unauthorized use, or detect modifications, while also ensuring information security through confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and nonrepudiation.

• demography

  The study of the characteristics of human populations, especially with regards to their makeup and fluctuations and the social causes behind these.

• phonograph

  A device that captures sound waves onto an engraved archive; a lathe.

• polymorphism

  The ability to assume different forms or shapes.

• lithography

  The process of printing an image by drawing the image with a water-repellent material onto a hard, flat surface (typically metal), then copying the surface by applying water and ink (or the equivalent) to it and pressing another material against it.

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