polymorphism

pol·y·mor·phism

 (pŏl′ē-môr′fĭz′əm)

n.

1. Biology The occurrence of more than one form, as several alleles of a particular gene or winged and wingless forms of the same species.

2. Chemistry Crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Also called pleomorphism.

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pol′y·mor′phic, pol′y·mor′phous adj.

pol′y·mor′phous·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

polymorphism

(ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪzəm)

n

1. (Biology) biology

a. the occurrence of more than one form of individual in a single species within an interbreeding population

b. the occurrence of more than one form in the individual polyps of a coelenterate colony

2. (Chemistry) the existence or formation of different types of crystal of the same chemical compound

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pol•y•mor•phism

(ˌpɒl iˈmɔr fɪz əm)

n.

1. the state or condition of being polymorphous.

2.

a. genetic variation that produces differing characteristics in individuals of the same population or species.

b. the occurrence of different castes or types within the same sex, as in social ants.

c. pleomorphism.

3. crystallization into two or more chemically identical but crystallographically distinct forms.

[1830–40]

pol`y•mor′phic, adj.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

pol·y·mor·phism

(pŏl′ē-môr′fĭz′əm)

1. The existence of two or more different forms in an adult organism of the same species, as of an insect. In bees, the presence of queen, worker, and drone is an example of polymorphism. Differences between the sexes and between breeds of domesticated animals are not considered examples of polymorphism.

2. The crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Diamond and graphite, for example, are polymorphs of the element carbon. They both consist entirely of carbon but have different crystal structures and different physical properties.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

polymorphism

the occurrence of several forms or colors in one species of insect. — polymorphous, adj.

See also: Insects

-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	polymorphism - (genetics) the genetic variation within a population that natural selection can operate on genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms organic phenomenon - (biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP - (genetics) genetic variation in a DNA sequence that occurs when a single nucleotide in a genome is altered; SNPs are usually considered to be point mutations that have been evolutionarily successful enough to recur in a significant proportion of the population of a species
	2.	polymorphism - (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound pleomorphism chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions chemical phenomenon - any natural phenomenon involving chemistry (as changes to atoms or molecules) dimorphism - (chemistry) the property of certain substances that enables them to exist in two distinct crystalline forms
	3.	polymorphism - (biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences) biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms organic phenomenon - (biology) a natural phenomenon involving living plants and animals dimorphism - (biology) the existence of two forms of individual within the same animal species (independent of sex differences)

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

polymorphism

noun

Biology. The quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds, or individuals:

diverseness, diversification, diversity, heterogeneity, heterogeneousness, miscellaneousness, multifariousness, multiformity, multiplicity, variegation, variety, variousness.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

mnohotvarost

Polymorphie

πολυμορφισμός

polymorphisme

polimorfizamvišeobličje

polimorfismo

同質異像多形多形性多態

polymorfisme

polimorfismo

polymorphism

[ˌpɒlɪˈmɔːfɪzəm] N → polimorfismo m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

polymorphism

n → Polymorphismus m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007