heteromorphic
Americanadjective
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Biology. dissimilar in shape, structure, or magnitude.
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Entomology. undergoing complete metamorphosis; possessing varying forms.
adjective
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differing from the normal form in size, shape, and function
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(of pairs of homologous chromosomes) differing from each other in size or form
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(esp of insects) having different forms at different stages of the life cycle
Other Word Forms
- heteromorphism noun
- heteromorphy noun
Etymology
Origin of heteromorphic
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.
The occurrence of heteromorphic unions renders it necessary to keep in mind that plants hermaphrodite as to structure are by no means necessarily so as to function.
From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.
Organic development is not like crystallisation; it is heteromorphic crystallisation, so to speak.
From Herbert Spencer by Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur)
Red cowslip by variation has become non-dimorphic, and with this change of structure has become much more productive of seed than even the heteromorphic union of the common cowslip.
From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 by Darwin, Francis, Sir
Definitions 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.
