-morphic

Word Origin

variant of -morphous:

anthropomorphic.

Origin of -morphic

-morph + -ic

morph

[mawrf] /mɔrf/

noun

Linguistics. a sequence of phonemes constituting a minimal unit of grammar or syntax, and, as such, a representation, member, or contextual variant of a morpheme in a specific environment.

Compare allomorph (def 2).

Biology. an individual of one particular form, as a worker ant, in a species that occurs in two or more forms.

verb (used with object)

to transform (an image) by computer.

verb (used without object)

to be transformed:

morphing from a tough negotiator to Mr. Friendly.

Origin

1945-50; back formation from morpheme, or independent use of -morph

Related forms

morphic, adjective

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018.
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Examples from the Web for morphic

Historical Examples

The pyroxene is morphic, yellow or green, and is surrounded by formless areas of nepheline.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 3 Various

British Dictionary definitions for morphic

morph¹

/mɔːf/

noun

(linguistics) the phonological representation of a morpheme

Word Origin

C20: shortened form of morpheme

morph²

/mɔːf/

noun

(biology) any of the different forms of individual found in a polymorphic species

Word Origin

C20: from Greek morphē shape

morph³

/mɔːf/

verb

to undergo or cause to undergo morphing

to transform or be transformed completely in appearance or character: he morphed from nerd into pop icon

noun

a morphed image

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word Origin and History for morphic

adj.

1826, from Greek morphe "form, shape" (see Morpheus) + -ic.

morph

as a noun, in biology, 1955; as a verb, in cinematic special effects, c.1987, short for metamorphosis. Related: Morphed; morphing. Earlier it was a slang shortening of morphine (1912).

morphic in Medicine

-morphic suff.
Having a specified shape or form: homomorphic.

morphic in Science

morph

(môrf)
A phenotypically distinct form of an organism or species.

Slang definitions & phrases for morphic

morph

noun

Morphine (1912+ Narcotics)
morphodite (1940s+)

verb

To change one image into another by a computer technique: One of the most popular techniques in TV ads has been to ''morph'' a Democratic rival into Clinton, employing special effects to have the candidate's face change into the President's/ One thing morphs into another before your very eyes (1990s+)

[fr Greek morphe, ''form'']

The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.
Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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-morphic

morph

morph¹

morph²

morph³

morph

morph

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