polymorphic
[ pol-ee-mawr-fik ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈmɔr fɪk /
Save This Word!
adjective
Biology. (of a species) having more than one form or type as a result of discontinuous variation: Cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower are all forms of a single polymorphic species.
Computers. of or relating to a virus or other malignant code that has many forms, changing as it replicates: Polymorphic malware, which changes its identity up to 19 times a day to avoid detection while taking control of users' computers, has been successfully deactivated.
Crystallography. of or relating to a substance that crystallizes into two or more forms having different structure but identical chemistry:The pharmaceutical under study here, at five structurally characterized forms, is one of the most polymorphic drugs known.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Also polymorphous .
Words nearby polymorphic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023