polymorph

[ pol-ee-mawrf ]

/ ˈpɒl iˌmɔrf /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: polymorphic on Thesaurus.com

noun

Biology. an organism having more than one form or type as a result of discontinuous variation.

Crystallography. any of the crystal forms assumed by a substance that exhibits polymorphism.

Anatomy. granulocyte.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of polymorph

First recorded in 1820–30; from Greek polýmorphos; see poly-, -morph

OTHER WORDS FROM polymorph

pol·y·mor·phic

[pol-ee-mawr-fik] /ˌpɒl iˈmɔr fɪk/ adjective

Words nearby polymorph

polymerism, polymerization, polymerize, polymerous, polymethyl methacrylate, polymorph, polymorphic, polymorphic function, polymorphic reticulosis, polymorphism, polymorphocellular

British Dictionary definitions for polymorph

polymorph

/ (ˈpɒlɪˌmɔːf) /

noun

a species of animal or plant that exhibits polymorphism

any of the crystalline forms of a chemical compound that exhibits polymorphism

Also called: polymorphonuclear leucocyte any of a group of white blood cells that have lobed nuclei and granular cytoplasm and function as phagocytes; they include neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils

Word Origin for polymorph

C19: from Greek polumorphos having many forms

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