1. composed of many small crystals or crystalline grains bonded together
Usage: technical; materials science

Examples

• Polycrystalline silicon is commonly used in solar panels because it is less expensive to produce than monocrystalline silicon.
• Most metals in everyday use are polycrystalline, consisting of many tiny crystal grains.
• The polycrystalline structure of the material gives it different mechanical properties than a single crystal.
• Polycrystalline diamonds are used in industrial cutting tools and drill bits.
• The engineer examined the polycrystalline sample under a microscope to study the grain boundaries.