pleomorphism

or ple·o·mor·phy

[ plee-uh-mawr-fiz-uhm ]

/ ˌpli əˈmɔr fɪz əm /

Save This Word!

noun Biology.

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

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pleomorphism

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

Words nearby pleomorphism

pleochroism, pleocytosis, pleomastia, pleomorphic, pleomorphic lipoma, pleomorphism, pleon, pleonasm, pleonastic, pleonosteosis, pleopod

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

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

Medical definitions for pleomorphism

pleomorphism

[ plē′ə-môr′fĭz′əm ]

polymorphism

The occurrence of two or more structural forms during a life cycle, especially of certain plants.

Other words from pleomorphism

ple′o•mor′phic (-fĭk) null adj.