heteromorphic

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adjective

Having different forms in different stages of the life cycle

OriginAncient Greek μορφή (morphḗ) ← English hetero- ← Proto-Hellenic *hə́teros →
Scrabble 25
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Meanings

adjectiveheteromorphic (comparative more heteromorphic, superlative most heteromorphic)

comparative more heteromorphic · superlative most heteromorphic

  1. biologyHaving different forms in different stages of the life cycle
  2. Differing in size or structure from the normal

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sḿ̥teros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*hə́teros
  4. Ancient Greekἕτερος (héteros)
  5. Englishhetero-
  6. Ancient Greekμορφή (morphḗ)
  7. Englishheteromorphic

From hetero- + -morphic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Irish heitreamorfach
  • heitreamorfachbiology: having different forms in different stages of the life cycle
Japanese 異形
  • 異形 (igyō)differing in size or structure from the normal
Polish heteromorficzny, heteromorficzny
  • heteromorficznybiology: having different forms in different stages of the life cycle
  • heteromorficznydiffering in size or structure from the normal
Cite this entry
APA

heteromorphic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteromorphic

MLA

“heteromorphic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteromorphic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heteromorphic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heteromorphic.

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