noun
- Plural of polyp; small marine animals with a tube-shaped body and tentacles around the mouth, such as sea anemones and corals.
- Plural of polyp; abnormal growths protruding from mucous membranes, especially in the nose or colon.
Usage: Most common in biology and marine science contexts.; Note: 'polypi' is an alternative plural form, though 'polypuses' is preferred in modern English.
Usage: Medical term; commonly used in healthcare contexts.
Examples
- The coral reef is made up of thousands of tiny polypuses working together.
- Sea anemones are solitary polypuses that attach to rocks on the ocean floor.
- The doctor found several polypuses during the colonoscopy.
- Nasal polypuses can cause breathing difficulties and should be evaluated by a specialist.
- These polypuses reproduce both sexually and asexually depending on environmental conditions.
- The patient's symptoms improved after the polypuses were surgically removed.