metamorphosis

American  

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

noun

metamorphoses plural

1. 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.

   Antonyms:

   stasis

2. a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation by magic or witchcraft.

   Synonyms:

   transmutation, mutation

   Antonyms:

   stasis

3. any complete change in appearance, character, circumstances, etc.

4. a form resulting from any such change.

5. Pathology.

   1. a type of alteration or degeneration in which tissues are changed.

      fatty metamorphosis of the liver.

   2. the resultant form.

6. Botany. the structural or functional modification of a plant organ or structure during its development.

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metamorphosis British  

/ ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs /

noun

1. a complete change of physical form or substance

2. a complete change of character, appearance, etc

3. a person or thing that has undergone metamorphosis

4. 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

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metamorphosis Scientific  

/ mĕt′ə-môr′fə-sĭs /

1. 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.

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metamorphosis Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• nonmetamorphosis
  noun

Etymology

Origin of metamorphosis

First recorded in 1525–35; from New Latin metamorphōsis, from Greek metamórphōsis “transformation”; equivalent to meta- + -morph + -osis

Explanation

In Kafka's novel entitled Metamorphosis, a man wakes up to find he has turned into a cockroach. That kind of complete and startling change pretty much sums up the word. When a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, it goes through a metamorphosis. An idea can undergo metamorphosis, or metamorphosize, too as can feelings. After you spend a full summer with your grandmother, your feelings about the woman may undergo a complete metamorphosis. While you were once afraid of the old woman, you now love her dearly.

Example Sentences

The Metamorphosis Butterfly Diamond Pendant in particular might blind someone on a sunny day.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2024

The project, dubbed Metamorphosis, focuses on transforming what otherwise might be discarded into something of value to society: rotten wood into fine instruments, inmates into craftsmen, all under the principle of rehabilitation.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2024

Metamorphosis is something Martin has embraced consistently, pandemic or not.

From Washington Post • Dec. 17, 2020

The Finch family library includes Pastoralia, The Metamorphosis, Slaughterhouse Five, Infinite Jest, and—boldest of all for a labyrinth of interconnected stories like What Remains of Edith Finch—Borges.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2017

“And also it is important to know things because it makes you special and you can read books that normal people cannot read, such as Ovid's Metamorphosis, which is in Latin.”

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green

Related Words

• evolution
• rebirth