polymorph

[ pol-ee-mawrf ]

noun

1. Biology. an organism having more than one form or type as a result of discontinuous variation.
2. Crystallography. any of the crystal forms assumed by a substance that exhibits polymorphism.
3. Anatomy. granulocyte.

polymorph

/ ˈpɒlɪˌmɔːf /

noun

1. a species of animal or plant that exhibits polymorphism
2. any of the crystalline forms of a chemical compound that exhibits polymorphism
3. Also calledpolymorphonuclear leucocyte any of a group of white blood cells that have lobed nuclei and granular cytoplasm and function as phagocytes; they include neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils

Other Words From

• pol·y·mor·phic [pol-ee-, mawr, -fik] adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polymorph¹

First recorded in 1820–30; from Greek polýmorphos; poly-, -morph

Word History and Origins

Origin of polymorph¹

C19: from Greek polumorphos having many forms

Example Sentences

The other silica polymorph was quartz, which lay like a ring around the coesite.

From Science Daily

As an example, production of the high-pressure spinel polymorph of Li2MoO4 was only previously achieved in a high temperature and high-pressure chamber under a pressure more than 10,000 times the pressure of Earth's atmosphere.

From Science Daily

In the comics, Kamala gains polymorph and other enhanced abilities after being exposed to a special mist that awakened latent powers that are tied to a race of superpowered, human-ish aliens.

From Los Angeles Times

Now a polymorph, Kamala initially struggles to control her powers but soon gets the hang of it after saving one of her schoolmates during a moment of danger.

From Salon

A corollary of this idea is that if environmental conditions change, the relative abundance of each polymorph might change.

From Nature