PLEOMORPHISM

pleomorphism

(noun) (biology) the appearance of two or more distinctly different forms in the life cycle of some organisms

polymorphism, pleomorphism

(noun) (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

pleomorphism (countable and uncountable, plural pleomorphisms)

(biology) the occurrence of multiple structural forms during the life cycle of an organism

(chemistry) synonym of polymorphism

Source: Wiktionary


Ple`o*mor"phism, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. (Crystallog.)

Definition: The property of crystallizing under two or more distinct fundamental forms, including dimorphism and trimorphism.

2. (Biol.)

Definition: The theory that the various genera of bacteria are phases or variations of growth of a number of Protean species, each of which may exhibit, according to undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms characteristic of the different genera and species.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

4 April 2025

GUILLOTINE

(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”


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Coffee Trivia

Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free. Studies from the National Institute of Health (US) have shown that virtually all decaf coffee types contain caffeine. A 236-ml (8-oz) cup of decaf coffee contains up to 7 mg of caffeine, whereas a regular cup provided 70-140 mg.

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