paramorph

American  

[par-uh-mawrf] / ˈpær əˌmɔrf /

noun

Mineralogy.

1. a pseudomorph formed by a change in crystal structure but not in chemical composition.

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paramorph British  

/ ˈpærəˌmɔːf /

noun

1. a mineral that has undergone paramorphism

2. a plant or animal that is classified on the basis of inadequate data and differs taxonomically from other members of the species in which it has been placed

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Other Word Forms

• paramorphic adjective
• paramorphous adjective

Etymology

Origin of paramorph

First recorded in 1875–80; para- ¹ + -morph