polymorphism
[ pol-ee-mawr-fiz-uhm ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈmɔr fɪz əm /
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noun
the state or condition of being polymorphous.
Crystallography. crystallization into two or more chemically identical but crystallographically distinct forms.
Biology. the existence of an organism in several form or color varieties as a result of discontinuous variation.
Genetics. the presence of two or more distinct phenotypes in a population due to the expression of different alleles of a given gene, as human blood groups O, A, B, and AB.
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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
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OTHER WORDS FROM polymorphism
pol·y·mor·phis·tic, adjectiveWords nearby polymorphism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for polymorphism
British Dictionary definitions for polymorphism
polymorphism
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪzəm) /
noun
biology
- the occurrence of more than one form of individual in a single species within an interbreeding population
- the occurrence of more than one form in the individual polyps of a coelenterate colony
the existence or formation of different types of crystal of the same chemical compound
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 polymorphism
polymorphism
[ pŏl′ē-môr′fĭz′əm ]
n.
The occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individual organisms or in organisms of the same species, independent of sexual variations.
Crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms.pleomorphism
Other words from polymorphism
pol′y•mor′phic null adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for polymorphism
polymorphism
[ pŏl′ē-môr′fĭz′əm ]
The occurrence of more than one form, as several alleles of a particular gene or winged and wingless forms of the same species. In bees, the presence of queen, worker, and drone is an example of polymorphism. Differences between the sexes and between breeds of domesticated animals are not considered examples of polymorphism.
The crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Diamond and graphite, for example, are polymorphs of the element carbon. They both consist entirely of carbon but have different crystal structures and different physical properties.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.