amorphous

[uh-mawr-fuhs]

adjective

1. lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless.

   the amorphous clouds.

   Synonyms: anomalous, vague, undefined, shapeless

2. of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized.

   an amorphous style; an amorphous personality.

   Synonyms: anomalous, vague, undefined, shapeless

3. Petrography, Mineralogy.,  occurring in a mass, as without stratification or crystalline structure.

4. Chemistry.,  not crystalline.

5. Biology.,  having structural components that are not clearly differentiated, as the nuclear material in certain bacteria.

amorphous

/ əˈmɔːfəs /

adjective

1. lacking a definite shape; formless

2. of no recognizable character or type

3. (of chemicals, rocks, etc) not having a crystalline structure

amorphous

1. Not made of crystals. Glass, amber, and plastics are amorphous substances.

2. Lacking definite form or shape.

Other Word Forms

• amorphously adverb
• amorphousness noun
• amorphism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of amorphous¹

First recorded in 1725–35, amorphous is from the Greek word ámorphos shapeless. See a- ⁶, -morph, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of amorphous¹

C18: from New Latin, from Greek amorphos shapeless, from _a- ¹ + morphē shape

Example Sentences

This year there is no title or theme, with curators Essence Harden and Paulina Pobocha relying on the work itself to shine a light on the amorphous nature of the city.

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“Verbiage, memes, targeting, crude humor and cultural references that are immediately available often telegraph motives for violent symbolic attacks, but can also be amorphous or disjointed,” he said.

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Henry has a strong sense of this amorphous feminine figure.

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That stature has only grown as elements of Deftones’ amorphously aggressive sound, which has elements of post-hardcore, trip hop and, most relevant to their revival, shoegaze, have attracted a much younger audience.

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The songs on this trendsetting fourth album are amorphous and crystalline, obsessed with finding beauty in the most faraway corners.

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Related Words

• nebulous 
• vague