METAMORPHOSE

transform, transmute, metamorphose

(verb) change in outward structure or looks; “He transformed into a monster”; “The salesman metamorphosed into an ugly beetle”

metamorphose, transfigure, transmogrify

(verb) change completely the nature or appearance of; “In Kafka’s story, a person metamorphoses into a bug”; “The treatment and diet transfigured her into a beautiful young woman”; “Jesus was transfigured after his resurrection”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Verb

metamorphose (third-person singular simple present metamorphoses, present participle metamorphosing, simple past and past participle metamorphosed)

(of a moth or insect, intransitive) To undergo metamorphosis.

(by extension, intransitive) To undergo some transformation.

(transitive) To transform (something) so that it has a completely different appearance.

Synonyms

• metamorphosize

Source: Wiktionary

---

Met`a*mor"phose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Metamorphosed; p. pr. & vb. n. Metamorphosing.] Etym: [Cf. F. métamorphoser.]

Definition: To change into a different form; to transform; to transmute. And earth was metamorphosed into man. Dryden.

Met`a*mor"phose, n. Etym: [Cf. F. métamorphose. See Metamorphosis.]

Definition: Same as Metamorphosis.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---