polygraph

plural polygraphs

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.

   It used to be just a plain office with a chair and some instruments on a table. Then they got the new, fancy polygraph system.

   1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 270

   Synonyms: lie detector

2. datedA mechanical instrument for multiplying copies of a writing, resembling multiple pantographs.

   Synonyms: manifold writer, autopen

3. archaicA collection of different works, either by one or several authors.
4. human sciencesA group of letters that represent a single phoneme.

   Synonyms: multigraph

5. Any group of letters treated as a single item.

   1 more example

   A polygraph consists of an unspecified number of adjacent letters. A polygraph need not be recognisable as a word in a language but if we are attempting to decipher a message which is expected to be in English and we find the heptagraph MEETING it is much more promising than if we find a heptagraph such as DKRPIGX.

   2002, Robert Churchhouse, Codes and Ciphers: Julius Caesar, the Enigma, and the Internet, page 3

6. An author who writes on many subjects.
7. mathematicsA multidimensional directed graph.

   Synonyms: computad

present singular third person polygraphs · participle present polygraphing · participle past polygraphed · past polygraphed

1. transitiveTo administer a polygraph test to.

   The FBI polygraphed the suspect but learned nothing because they already knew he was lying.