| Library / English Dictionary |
METAMORPHOSIS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected form: metamorphoses
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A complete change of physical form or substance especially as by magic or witchcraft
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("metamorphosis" is a kind of...):
transformation; translation (the act of changing in form or shape or appearance)
Derivation:
metamorphous (produced by metamorphosis)
metamorphous (of or relating to metamorphosis (especially of rocks))
Sense 2
Meaning:
A striking change in appearance or character or circumstances
Example:
the metamorphosis of the old house into something new and exciting
Synonyms:
metamorphosis; transfiguration
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("metamorphosis" is a kind of...):
alteration; revision (the act of revising or altering (involving reconsideration and modification))
Sense 3
Meaning:
The marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals
Synonyms:
metabolism; metamorphosis
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Hypernyms ("metamorphosis" is a kind of...):
biological process; organic process (a process occurring in living organisms)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "metamorphosis"):
hemimetabolism; hemimetaboly; hemimetamorphosis (incomplete or partial metamorphosis in insects)
heterometabolism; heterometaboly (development of insects with incomplete metamorphosis in which no pupal stage precedes maturity)
holometabolism; holometaboly (complete metamorphosis in insects)
Derivation:
metamorphic (characterized by metamorphosis or change in physical form or substance)
