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Webster 1913 Edition
Metamorphosis
Metˊa-mor′pho-sis
,Noun.
pl.
Metamorphoses
(#)
. [L., fr. Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] to be transformed;
μετά
beyond, over + μορφή
form.] 1.
Change of form, or structure; transformation.
2.
(Biol.)
A change in the form or function of a living organism, by a natural process of growth or development;
as, the
. 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 metamorphosis
of the yolk into the embryo, of a tadpole into a frog, or of a bud into a blossomTransformation
. 3.
(Physiol.)
The change of material of one kind into another through the agency of the living organism; metabolism.
Vegetable metamorphosis
(Bot.)
, the doctrine that flowers are homologous with leaf buds, and that the floral organs are transformed leaves.
Webster 1828 Edition
Metamorphosis
METAMORPH'OSIS
,Noun.
1.
Any change of form or shape.Definition 2024
metamorphosis
metamorphosis
English
Noun
metamorphosis (plural metamorphoses)
- A transformation, such as that of magic or by sorcery
- A noticeable change in character, appearance, function or condition.
- (biology) A change in the form and often habits of an animal after the embryonic stage during normal development. (e.g. the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly or a tadpole into a frog.)
- (pathology) A change in the structure of a specific body tissue. Usually degenerative.
Related terms
Derived terms
Translations
transformation
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noticeable change
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in biology
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in pathology
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