allometry

allo·metry
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/ˈæləˌmɛtɹɪ/

noun

Disproportionate growth of a part of a living organism in relation to the whole.

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Meanings

nounallometry (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyDisproportionate growth of a part of a living organism in relation to the whole.
    1 more example

    Some organs may grow faster than the rest of the body so that their size increases not only in absolute terms, but also relatively to the rest of the body, which is positive allometry; or they may grow more slowly than the rest of the body, and so decrease in relative size, which is negative allometry.

    1983 May 5, Paul Harvey, Tim Clutton-Brock, “The Survival of the Theory”, in New Scientist, volume 98, number 1356, London: New Science Publications, →ISSN, page 313
  2. uncountablebiologyThe science studying the differential growth rates of the parts of a living organism.

Origin

From allo- + -metry.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 异速生长
  • 异速生长 (yìsùshēngzhǎng)the science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Czech alometrie
  • alometriethe science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
French allométrie
  • allométriethe science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Greek αλλομετρία
  • αλλομετρία (allometría)the science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Irish allaiméadracht
  • allaiméadrachtthe science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Japanese アロメトリー
  • アロメトリー (arometorī)the science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Polish alometria, allometria
  • alometriadisproportionate growth of a part of a living organism in relation to the whole
  • allometriadisproportionate growth of a part of a living organism in relation to the whole
Portuguese alometria
  • alometriathe science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Romanian alometrie
  • alometriethe science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Swedish allometri
  • allometrithe science studying the differential growth rates of body parts
Cite this entry
APA

allometry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allometry

MLA

“allometry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allometry. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “allometry,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/allometry.

Source: allometry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.