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View synonyms for metamorphosis

metamorphosis

[ met-uh-mawr-fuh-sis ]

noun

, plural met·a·mor·pho·ses [met-, uh, -, mawr, -f, uh, -seez].
  1. Biology. a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism, as from the caterpillar to the pupa and from the pupa to the adult butterfly. Compare complete metamorphosis.

    Antonyms: stasis

  2. a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation by magic or witchcraft.

    Synonyms: transmutation, mutation

    Antonyms: stasis

  3. any complete change in appearance, character, circumstances, etc.
  4. a form resulting from any such change.
  5. Pathology.
    1. a type of alteration or degeneration in which tissues are changed:

      fatty metamorphosis of the liver.

    2. the resultant form.
  6. Botany. the structural or functional modification of a plant organ or structure during its development.


metamorphosis

/ ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs /

noun

  1. a complete change of physical form or substance
  2. a complete change of character, appearance, etc
  3. a person or thing that has undergone metamorphosis
  4. zoology the rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in certain animals, for example the stage between tadpole and frog or between chrysalis and butterfly
“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

metamorphosis

/ mĕt′ə-môrfə-sĭs /

  1. Dramatic change in the form and often the habits of an animal during its development after birth or hatching. The transformation of a maggot into an adult fly and of a tadpole into an adult frog are examples of metamorphosis. The young of such animals are called larvae.

metamorphosis

  1. A change in an animal as it grows, particularly a radical change, such as the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
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Other Words From

  • nonmet·a·morpho·sis noun plural nonmetamorphoses
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Word History and Origins

Origin of metamorphosis1

First recorded in 1525–35; from New Latin metamorphōsis, from Greek metamórphōsis “transformation”; equivalent to meta- + -morph + -osis
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Word History and Origins

Origin of metamorphosis1

C16: via Latin from Greek: transformation, from meta- + morphē form
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Example Sentences

This was perhaps her final makeover, a metamorphosis which firmly established her as the enigmatic diva we know today.

From BBC

“The truth is I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis. And he was one of the people to help facilitate all that.”

His daytime success and primetime failure illustrates the American media’s metamorphosis – a metamorphosis that inflicts immeasurable damage on public debate, and the democracy that it is supposed to enhance.

From Salon

When it came to the king, Mr. Yeo told The Times that he had noticed physical changes in their four sittings together — during which time the king was going through a metamorphosis of stature.

"In history of art, the butterfly symbolises metamorphosis and rebirth," he explains, fitting for a portrait being painted of a monarch who has recently ascended to the throne.

From BBC

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Metamorphosesmetamorphous