morph

[mawrf]

See more synonyms for morph on Thesaurus.com

noun

Linguistics. a sequence of phonemes constituting a minimal unit of grammar or syntax, and, as such, a representation, member, or contextual variant of a morpheme in a specific environment.Compare allomorph(def 2).
Biology. an individual of one particular form, as a worker ant, in a species that occurs in two or more forms.

verb (used with object)

to transform (an image) by computer.

verb (used without object)

to be transformed: morphing from a tough negotiator to Mr. Friendly.

Origin of morph

1945–50; back formation from morpheme, or independent use of -morph

Related formsmor·phic, adjective

morph-

variant of morpho- before a vowel: morpheme.

-morph

a combining form meaning “form, structure,” of the kind specified by the initial element: isomorph.

Origin of -morph

< Greek -morphos; see -morphous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for morph

transform, alter, modify, contort, distort, deform, doctor, mutate, recast, wring, transmute

Examples from the Web for morph

Contemporary Examples of morph

But while the drug may not morph into a money making machine, it may work to maintain the safety of residents.
The Real Election Winner: Weed
Abby Haglage
November 5, 2014
I knew he was the only actor who would be willing to morph into the numerous subjects portrayed in the original images.
The Man Behind Marilyn Malkovich
Justin Jones
October 2, 2014
The notion to morph a specialty tortilla chip into a taco shell at first may sound like it would be a snap.
Taste Sensation Innovation
September 18, 2014
When the raven-man promises Bran that he will “fly,” does he mean the boy is about to morph into mutant bird as well?
Best ‘Game of Thrones’ Season Yet
Andrew Romano
June 16, 2014
His dialogue is positively literary in the creativeness with which he invents new ways to use and morph curse words into insults.
‘Veep’ Is a F*@king Masterclass in Cursing
Kevin Fallon
April 7, 2014

Historical Examples of morph

"ber die Beziehungen zwischen Mammartasche u. Marsupium," Morph.
The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., Mammalia
Frank Evers Beddard

British Dictionary definitions for morph

morph

noun

linguistics the phonological representation of a morpheme

Word Origin for morph

C20: shortened form of morpheme

morph

noun

biology any of the different forms of individual found in a polymorphic species

Word Origin for morph

C20: from Greek morphē shape

morph

verb

to undergo or cause to undergo morphing
to transform or be transformed completely in appearance or characterhe morphed from nerd into pop icon

noun

a morphed image

-morph

n combining form

indicating shape, form, or structure of a specified kindectomorph

Derived Forms-morphic or -morphous, adj combining form-morphy, n combining form

Word Origin for -morph

from Greek -morphos, from morphē shape

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

Word Origin and History for morph

as a noun, in biology, 1955; as a verb, in cinematic special effects, c.1987, short for metamorphosis. Related: Morphed; morphing. Earlier it was a slang shortening of morphine (1912).

morph in Medicine

-morph

suff.

Form; shape; structure:endomorph.

morph in Science

morph

[môrf]

A phenotypically distinct form of an organism or species.