mehrgliedriger

Mehrgliedriger is a German adjective meaning “having many parts or segments” or “multi‑part, multi‑jointed.” The word is built from mehr- (“more, many”) and Glied (“part, segment”) with the -rig suffix indicating a characteristic. It is used with various nouns and declines according to gender and number, for example mehrgliedriger Satz, mehrgliedrige Kette, or mehrgliedrige Gliedmaßen.

In linguistic usage, mehrgliedrig describes sentences that consist of multiple clauses. A mehrgliedriger Satz typically contains several Haupt- and Nebensätze, making the structure more complex than a simple sentence. It is often contrasted with simpler sentence types and discussed in the study of syntax and sentence rhythm.

In biology and anatomy, the term can describe organisms or body plans with multiple segments or limbs. For example, more or less segmented organisms may be described as mehrgliedrig or more precisely as metamerisch in scientific contexts. In practice, specialists frequently use terminology such as metamerie or segmentierung, but mehrgliedrig is still encountered in descriptive or introductory text.

In engineering and mechanics, mehrgliedrig can apply to systems with several linked parts or joints, such as a mehrgliedriges Gelenk- oder Seilsystem. The term thus functions as a general, non-technical descriptor for multi‑part constructions across disciplines.

Related concepts include Glied (segment/part), Metamerie (segmental organization), and Nebensatz (subordinate clause). The exact connotation depends on the field and the noun it accompanies.