pleomorphism

or ple·o·mor·phy

[ plee-uh-mawr-fiz-uhm ]

nounBiology.

existence of an organism in two or more distinct forms during the life cycle; polymorphism.

Origin of pleomorphism

First recorded in 1860–65; pleo- + -morph + -ism

Words Nearby pleomorphism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pleomorphism in a sentence

He had described this phenomenon in 1888 in a memoir entitled pleomorphism of Microbes.
Life of Elie Metchnikoff, 1845-1916 | Olga Metchnikoff

British Dictionary definitions for pleomorphism

pleomorphism

pleomorphy (ˈpliːəˌmɔːfɪ)

/ (ˌpliːəˈmɔːˌfɪzəm) /

noun

the occurrence of more than one different form in the life cycle of a plant or animal
the occurrence of more than one different form of crystal of one chemical compound; polymorphism

Derived forms of pleomorphism

pleomorphic, adjective

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

Browse