morpho-, morph-, -morphous, -morphically, -morphia, -morphosis, -morphously, -morphy, -morphic, -morphism

Capable of being divided into equal halves along any diameter, as the flowers of the rose or tulip; radially symmetrical.

Capable of being divided into equal halves along any diameter, as the flowers of the rose or tulip; radially symmetrical.

Not a clearly defined form. In the past this term was applied to certain cells of the gastric glands.

1. Any of two or more different forms of the same chemical compound.
2. In linguistics, one of the alternate contextually determined phonological shapes of a morpheme; such as, en in oxen, which is an allomorph of the English plural morpheme.

Variability in crystalline form without change in chemical constitution.

1. A gene which is inactive; therefore, an amorphic gene.
2. Something that lacks a discernible shape and thus can be described as amorphous.

A state of being amorphous; especially, a state of being without crystallization even in the minutest particles, as in glass, opal, etc.

1. Having no definite form; shapeless, formless; such as, amorphous clouds.
2. Not belonging to a particular type or pattern.
3. Of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: "He has an amorphous style; as well as, an amorphous personality."
4. In petrology, a mineral occurring in a mass, as without stratification, form, or crystalline structure.
5. In chemistry, not crystalline.
6. In biology, having structural components that are not clearly differentiated, as the nuclear material in certain bacteria.

Animals without a mouth or regular internal organs; such as, the sponges.

A fetus without a head, heart, or limbs.

Without shape or form; shapelessness.

A somatic or reproductive structure that originates without nuclear recombination (asexual reproduction); the imperfect part of the life cycle of fungi.

1. Pertaining to a gradual evolution from one type of organism to another.
2. A reference to a kind of distorting optical system; such as, "an anamorphic lense".
3. Motion picture terminology: Cinemascope; an optical system which has different magnifications in the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the picture.

1. The evolution of one type of organism from another by a long series of gradual changes (synonym: anamorphosis; evolutionary increase in complexity of form and function).
2. Metamorphism that occurs deep under the earth's surface which changes simple minerals into complex minerals (antonym: katamorphism; at or near the earth's surface)
3. A distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner (synonym: anamorphosis).

1. An image that appears distorted unless it is viewed from a special angle or with a special instrument; the production of such an image. 2. A drawing presenting a distorted image that appears in natural form under certain conditions, as when viewed at a raking angle or reflected from a curved mirror; the method of producing such a drawing.
3. Evolutionary increase in complexity of form and function.
4. A gradually ascending progression or change of form from one type to another in the evolution of a group of animals or plants.
5. In certain arthropods, metamorphosis in which body parts or segments are added to those already present.