multiform
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of multiform
From the Latin word multiformis, dating back to 1595–1605. See multi-, -form
Explanation
If you describe something as multiform, it can exist in many forms. By its nature, a transformer toy that can double as a car and as a robot can be called multiform. Many illnesses are multiform, like cancer, because they come in all different types with all sorts of symptoms and characteristics. But good things can be multiform as well; think of the multiform Hindu deity Vishnu with ten different avatars that range from a fish to a boar to a tortoise.
Vocabulary lists containing multiform
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: multi-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: multi
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
He interprets one multiform category, “Monster,” from an original angle — the creature’s physical characteristics.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 30, 2021
Tokarczuk’s approach, like Melville’s, is encyclopedic and multiform.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 24, 2018
The complex multiform tapestry — 25 feet wide, 10 feet tall and a foot deep — requires considerable care and special handling, says Peter Golembowski, an associate preparator with the museum team.
From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2017
ET12:24 A check-in with the University of Florida’ election analyst Michael McDonald on that other primary race and its multiform competitors.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 19, 2015
A good deal of reassurance can be given by telling them of patients who suffer from ailments not unlike theirs, showing how multiform the affection is.
From Psychotherapy by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
