morph

¹

[ mawrf ]

noun

1. Linguistics. a sequence of phonemes constituting a minimal unit of grammar or syntax, and, as such, a representation, member, or contextual variant of a morpheme in a specific environment. Compare allomorph ( def 2 ).
2. Biology. an individual of one particular form, as a worker ant, in a species that occurs in two or more forms.

verb (used with object)

1. to transform (an image) by computer.

verb (used without object)

1. to be transformed:

   morphing from a tough negotiator to Mr. Friendly.

morph-

²

1. variant of morpho- before a vowel:

   morpheme.

-morph

³

1. a combining form meaning “form, structure,” of the kind specified by the initial element:

   isomorph.

morph

¹

/ mɔːf /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo morphing
2. to transform or be transformed completely in appearance or character

   he morphed from nerd into pop icon

noun

1. a morphed image

-morph

²

combining form

1. indicating shape, form, or structure of a specified kind

   ectomorph

morph

³

/ mɔːf /

noun

1. biology any of the different forms of individual found in a polymorphic species

morph

⁴

/ mɔːf /

noun

1. linguistics the phonological representation of a morpheme

morph.

⁵

abbreviation for

1. morphological
2. morphology

morph

/ môrf /

1. A phenotypically distinct form of an organism or species.

Derived Forms

• -morphy, combining_form:in_noun:countable
• -morphic, combining_form:in_adjective

Other Words From

• morphic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of morph¹

1945–50; back formation from morpheme, or independent use of -morph

Origin of morph²

< Greek -morphos; -morphous

Word History and Origins

Origin of morph¹

from Greek -morphos, from morphē shape

Origin of morph²

C20: from Greek morphē shape

Origin of morph³

C20: shortened form of morpheme

Example Sentences

Some of his answers can morph into four or five-minute monologues on playing patterns or counter-pressing; the former Wales captain only coming up for air when he apologises, while grinning, for going off on another tangent.

From BBC

But we morph in unexpected ways, like the natural landscape around us, contracting and expanding, cracking in places, melting in others and ultimately sprouting with new life.

From Los Angeles Times

We morph in unexpected ways, like the natural landscape around us, contracting and expanding, cracking in places, melting in others and ultimately sprouting with new life.

From Los Angeles Times

Without the ball, Napoli play a 4-3-3 but in possession, they morph into a 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-2-4 with the ex-Manchester United midfielder often lining up alongside Lukaku at the very top.

From BBC

In Todd Phillips' "Joker: Folie à Deux," musician Lady Gaga ditches her pop star digs to morph into an unrecognizable version of the character.

From Salon

Related Words

• alter
• modify
• transform

Words That Use -morph

What does -morph mean?

The combining form –morph is used like a suffix meaning “form, structure.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. Historically, –morph has been used in the pseudoscience of somatotype, which seeks to typify body shapes.

The form –morph ultimately comes from Greek morphḗ, meaning “form.” The equivalent combining form from Latin is –form, from –fōrmis, meaning “having the form of.”

What are variants of –morph?

The form –morph is related to the forms –morphous and –morphic, meaning “having the shape, form, or structure.” Other related forms are –morphism, morph–, and morpho–. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on all five forms.

Examples of -morph

An example of a term that features the form –morph is biomorph, “a painted, drawn, or sculptured free form or design suggestive in shape of a living organism, especially an ameba or protozoan.”

The bio– part of the word means “life,” from Greek bíos. The form –morph, as we have seen, means “form.” Biomorph literally means “life form.”

What are some words that use the combining form –morph?

• dimorph (using the equivalent form of –morph in Greek)
• ectomorph
• endomorph
• mesomorph
• rhizomorph

What are some other forms that –morph may be commonly confused with?

• -form
• -mony
• -most

Break it down!

The combining form rhizo– means “root.” Keeping this in mind, what does the scientific term rhizomorph literally mean?