Polytropic

adj

adj ·4 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    of any change in the thermodynamic properties of a gas in which its specific heat remains constant not-comparable
  2. 2
    many-valued not-comparable
  3. 3
    Focusing one’s attention on multiple sets of things at one time. not-comparable

    "Our hypothesis is that the difference between autistic and non-autistic is a difference in the strategies employed in the distribution of scarce attention. That is to say, it is the difference between having few interests highly aroused, the monotropic tendency, and having many interests less highly aroused, the polytropic tendency. An aroused interest is an interest charged with feeling."

  4. 4
    Of bees: visiting a wide circle of flowers. not-comparable

Example

More examples

"Our hypothesis is that the difference between autistic and non-autistic is a difference in the strategies employed in the distribution of scarce attention. That is to say, it is the difference between having few interests highly aroused, the monotropic tendency, and having many interests less highly aroused, the polytropic tendency. An aroused interest is an interest charged with feeling."

Etymology

From polytrope, equivalent to poly- + -tropic, ultimately from Ancient Greek πολύτροπος (polútropos).

Related phrases

specific heat

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.