ametabolic

American

[ey-met-uh-bol-ik] / ˌeɪ mɛt əˈbɒl ɪk /

Also ametabolous

adjective

Zoology.

undergoing slight or no metamorphosis.

ametabolic British

/ əˌmɛtəˈbɒlɪk /

adjective

(of certain insects) having no obvious metamorphosis

"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

Etymology

Origin of ametabolic

First recorded in 1865–70; a- ⁶ + metabolic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Like most ametabolic and hemimetabolic Hexapoda, such nymphs continue to move and feed throughout their lives.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023