polyaxial

Adjective

polyaxial (not comparable)

1. Having more than one axis.
   • A crystal may contain rotation axes in different directions, defining the polyaxial point-groups.[…]The general symbol for a polyaxial point group is n₁ n₂ n₃. The simplest case is 222 in the orthorhombic system with three 2-fold axes at right angles to each other (Figure 4.13a).2004, Hans-Rudolf Wenk, Andrei Bulakh, Minerals: Their Constitution and Origin, page 69
   • However, polyaxial screw heads can be controlled with an instrument in such a way as to mimic the monoaxial screw capability for direct vertebral rotation but ultimately retain the advantages of a polyaxial screws.
   • The polyaxial screw is the most versatile. The polyaxial screw is a load-sharing device. A portion of the applied correction force is dissipated through the polyaxial connection protecting the bone-screw interface.2008, Michael F. O′Brien, Peter O. Newton, 48: Surgical Treatment of Adolecent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Daniel H. Kim, et al. (editors), Surgery of the Pediatric Spine, page 605
2. Axial about more than one axis.
   • According to Florin, only the Taxaceae cannot be interpreted in terms of the polyaxial concept, since the single terminal ovule shows no evidence of having evolved from a bract and ovuliferous shoot system.1990, C. N. Page, “Piatae: General Traits of Conifers”, in K.U. Kramer, P.S. Green, editors, Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms, page 291
   • However, sustainable avocado production at acceptable commercial levels remains a challenge as the polyaxial, pseudo-terminal flowering architecture of avocado (Verheij, 1986) dictates that trees must continuously increase in size to remain productive (Whiley and Schaffer, 1994).2002, Antony William Whiley, B. Nigel Wolstenholme, The Avocado: Botany, Production and Uses, page 147