polymorph

American  

[pol-ee-mawrf] / ˈpɒl iˌmɔrf /

noun

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

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

3. Anatomy. granulocyte.

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polymorph British  

/ ˈpɒlɪˌmɔːf /

noun

1. a species of animal or plant that exhibits polymorphism

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

3. 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

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Other Word Forms

• polymorphic adjective

Etymology

Origin of polymorph

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

Example Sentences

The authors determined that seifertite exists as the phase between stishovite and a third silica polymorph, α-cristobalite, also present in the sample.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2024

In the comics, Kamala gains polymorph and other enhanced abilities after being exposed to a special mist that awakened latent powers that are tied to a race of superpowered, human-ish aliens.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2022

Now a polymorph, Kamala initially struggles to control her powers but soon gets the hang of it after saving one of her schoolmates during a moment of danger.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2022

Calcite and closely-related polymorph aragonite are secreted by organisms to form shells and physical structures like corals.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Even in the absence of a polymorph that is suited to the environment, a new polymorph could emerge through a de novo nucleation-dependent process of amyloid aggregation.

From Nature • Nov. 8, 2016