Metamorphoses

[ met-uh-mawr-fuh-seez ]
/ ˌmɛt əˈmɔr fəˌsiz /

noun

a series of mythological tales or legends in verse (a.d. 7–8) by Ovid.

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Definition for metamorphoses (2 of 3)

metamorphose
[ met-uh-mawr-fohz, -fohs ]
/ ˌmɛt əˈmɔr foʊz, -foʊs /

verb (used with object), met·a·mor·phosed, met·a·mor·phos·ing.

to change the form or nature of; transform.
to subject to metamorphosis or metamorphism.

verb (used without object), met·a·mor·phosed, met·a·mor·phos·ing.

to undergo or be capable of undergoing a change in form or nature.

Origin of metamorphose

First recorded in 1570–80; back formation from metamorphosis

SYNONYMS FOR metamorphose

1, 3 mutate, transmute.

OTHER WORDS FROM metamorphose

un·met·a·mor·phosed, adjective

Definition for metamorphoses (3 of 3)

metamorphosis
[ met-uh-mawr-fuh-sis ]
/ ˌmɛt əˈmɔr fə sɪs /

noun, plural met·a·mor·pho·ses [met-uh-mawr-fuh-seez] /ˌmɛt əˈmɔr fəˌsiz/.

Biology. a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism, as from the caterpillar to the pupa and from the pupa to the adult butterfly.Compare complete metamorphosis.
a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation by magic or witchcraft.
any complete change in appearance, character, circumstances, etc.
a form resulting from any such change.
Pathology.
  1. a type of alteration or degeneration in which tissues are changed: fatty metamorphosis of the liver.
  2. the resultant form.
Botany. the structural or functional modification of a plant organ or structure during its development.

Origin of metamorphosis

1525–35; < New Latin metamorphōsis < Greek metamórphōsis transformation. See meta-, -morph, -osis

SYNONYMS FOR metamorphosis

2 mutation, transmutation.

ANTONYMS FOR metamorphosis

1, 2 stasis.

OTHER WORDS FROM metamorphosis

non·met·a·mor·pho·sis, noun, plural non·met·a·mor·pho·ses.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to metamorphoses

rebirth, evolution, transfiguration, alteration, transubstantiation, transmogrification, change, translation, changeover, transmutation, mutation

Example sentences from the Web for metamorphoses

British Dictionary definitions for metamorphoses (1 of 2)

metamorphose
/ (ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəʊz) /

verb

to undergo or cause to undergo metamorphosis or metamorphism

British Dictionary definitions for metamorphoses (2 of 2)

metamorphosis
/ (ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

a complete change of physical form or substance
a complete change of character, appearance, etc
a person or thing that has undergone metamorphosis
zoology the rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in certain animals, for example the stage between tadpole and frog or between chrysalis and butterfly

Word Origin for metamorphosis

C16: via Latin from Greek: transformation, from meta- + morphē form
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

Medical definitions for metamorphoses

metamorphosis
[ mĕt′ə-môr′fə-sĭs ]

n. pl. met•a•mor•pho•ses (-sēz′)

A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.transformation
A change in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development after the embryonic stage. Metamorphosis includes, in insects, the transformation of a maggot into an adult fly and a caterpillar into a butterfly and, in amphibians, the changing of a tadpole into a frog.
A usually degenerative pathological change in the structure of a particular body tissue.

Other words from metamorphosis

met′a•mor•phot′ic (-môr-fŏt′ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for metamorphoses

metamorphosis
[ mĕt′ə-môr′fə-sĭs ]

Dramatic change in the form and often the habits of an animal during its development after birth or hatching. The transformation of a maggot into an adult fly and of a tadpole into an adult frog are examples of metamorphosis. The young of such animals are called larvae.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for metamorphoses (1 of 2)

Metamorphoses
[ (met-uh-mawr-fuh-seez) ]

A long poem by the ancient Roman poet Ovid, in which he relates numerous stories from classical mythology. Many of the stories deal with miraculous transformations, or metamorphoses.

Cultural definitions for metamorphoses (2 of 2)

metamorphosis
[ (met-uh-mawr-fuh-sis) ]

A change in an animal as it grows, particularly a radical change, such as the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.