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metamorphosis
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun metamorphosis has 3 senses
- metamorphosis(n = noun.process) metabolism - the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals; Array has particulars: hemimetabolism, hemimetaboly, hemimetamorphosis, heterometabolism, heterometaboly, holometabolism, holometaboly
- metamorphosis(n = noun.act) transfiguration - a striking change in appearance or character or circumstances; "the metamorphosis of the old house into something new and exciting" is a kind of alteration, revision
- metamorphosis(n = noun.act) Array - a complete change of physical form or substance especially as by magic or witchcraft; Array is a kind of transformation, translation
is a kind of biological process, organic process
Derived form adjective metamorphic2
Derived forms adjective metamorphous2, adjective metamorphous1
CIDE DICTIONARY
metamorphosis, n. [L., fr. Gr. , fr. to be transformed; meta` beyond, over + morfh` form.].
- Change of form, or structure; transformation. [1913 Webster]
- A change in the form or function of a living organism, by a natural process of growth or development; as, the metamorphosis of the yolk into the embryo, of a tadpole into a frog, or of a bud into a blossom. Especially, that form of sexual reproduction in which an embryo undergoes a series of marked changes of external form, as the chrysalis stage, pupa stage, etc., in insects. In these intermediate stages sexual reproduction is usually impossible, but they ultimately pass into final and sexually developed forms, from the union of which organisms are produced which pass through the same cycle of changes. See Transformation. [1913 Webster]
- The change of material of one kind into another through the agency of the living organism; metabolism. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
metamorphosis, n. (pl. metamorphoses)
1 a change of form (by natural or supernatural means).
2 a changed form.
3 a change of character, conditions, etc.
4 Zool. the transformation between an immature form and an adult form, e.g. from a pupa to an insect, or from a tadpole to a frog.
1 a change of form (by natural or supernatural means).
2 a changed form.
3 a change of character, conditions, etc.
4 Zool. the transformation between an immature form and an adult form, e.g. from a pupa to an insect, or from a tadpole to a frog.
Etymology
L f. Gk metamorphosis f. metamorphoo transform (as META-, morphoo f. morphe form)
THESAURUS
metamorphosis
avatar, catabolism, catalysis, consubstantiation, displacement, heterotopia, metabolism, metagenesis, metamorphism, metastasis, metathesis, metempsychosis, mutant, mutated form, mutation, permutation, reincarnation, sport, transanimation, transfiguration, transfigurement, transformation, transformism, translation, translocation, transmigration, transmogrification, transmutation, transposition, transubstantiationROGET THESAURUS
metamorphosis
Change
N change, alteration, mutation, permutation, variation, modification, modulation, inflexion, mood, qualification, innovation, metastasis, deviation, turn, evolution, revolution, diversion, break, transformation, transfiguration, metamorphosis, transmutation, deoxidization, transubstantiation, mutagenesis transanimation, transmigration, metempsychosis, avatar, alterative, conversion, revolution &c (sudden or radical change), inversion, displacement, transference, changeableness, tergiversation, changed, newfangled, changeable, transitional, modifiable, alterative, mutatis mutandis, Int, quantum mutatus!, a change came o'er the spirit of my dream, nous avons change tout cela, tempora mutantur nos et mutamur in illis, non sum qualis eram, casaque tourner, corpora lente augescent cito extinguuntur, in statu quo ante bellum, still ending and beginning still, vox audita perit littera scripta manet.
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