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View synonyms for

metamorphosis

[met-uh-mawr-fuh-sis]

noun

plural

metamorphoses 
  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.

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

    Synonyms: ,
    Antonyms:
  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

/ ˌɛəˈɔːəɪ /

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

  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 Word Forms

  • nonmetamorphosis noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of metamorphosis1

First recorded in 1525–35; from New Latin ٲǰō, from Greek ٲóō “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- + ǰŧ form
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Jack Milne, heroic at the heart of an Aberdeen defence that performed a miraculous metamorphosis from mistake-ridden chumps to hugely resilient champs.

From

"Hacks" has carved out a special spotlight for DJ’s growth over the past four seasons, and Olson has brought a light pathos to her character’s metamorphosis.

From

The resulting piece was a pair of butterfly wings braided into her hair intended to symbolize her recent metamorphosis.

From

The critics say the gang leader’s metamorphosis defies reality, and that the kindly, do-gooder persona of Emilia Pérez mocks the victims who suffered during her former, malevolent reign.

From

On a lace vintage doily, Simpson embroidered the Japanese proverb “Fall seven times, stand up eight,” a fitting metaphor for her metamorphosis as an artist.

From

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Metamorphosesmetamorphous