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

metamorphosis

/ mĕt′ə-môr′fə-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.

Other Words From

• nonmet·a·morpho·sis noun plural nonmetamorphoses

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of metamorphosis¹

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

Example Sentences

To some degree, the memoir pulls off these linguistic metamorphoses by virtue of its overarching themes of earthquakes and jazz, suggesting that these nonlinear, improvisational models are the only way to tell her story.

From Washington Post

I think the idea of her metamorphosis, from someone mundane and looked over to someone powerful and FABULOUS, was incredibly empowering for me.

From Washington Blade

The catalyst for that metamorphosis was a decision by Deng Xiaoping, then China’s “paramount leader,” to create a capitalist enclave in communist China and open it to foreign investment, global trade, and Western technology.

From Fortune

In just eleven months, the Top Ten underwent an extraordinary metamorphosis.

From Fortune

Like all sea squirts, it has a tiny brain and nerve cord, but unlike the others, Oikopleura doesn’t undergo a metamorphosis on its way to maturity.

From Quanta Magazine

Metamorphosis is running at Lincoln Center, 63rd Street and 9th Avenue, until January 11, 2015.

From The Daily Beast

He wanted a model to be able to produce his metamorphosis, which is why he showed her in so many different ways.

From The Daily Beast

The boards had gotten shorter and surfing was going through a big metamorphosis.

From The Daily Beast

Paris was in a state of magical metamorphosis between the World Wars.

From The Daily Beast

Here was this person who was having a renaissance or a metamorphosis and seemed really joyous.

From The Daily Beast

But, sooner than the moral metamorphosis, a physical metamorphosis came about in Marguerite.

From Project Gutenberg

This inner sensation struck me even more forcibly than the metamorphosis of Nature spread out before me.

From Project Gutenberg

Metamorphosis Sexualis Paranoica species insaniae est in qua patiens imaginat sexum suum mutatum esse.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps never was metamorphosis more complete than that which now took place.

From Project Gutenberg

Its prolonged administration does not give rise to destructive blood metamorphosis.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• evolution
• rebirth