POLYMORPHISM

polymorphism

(noun) (biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences)

polymorphism, pleomorphism

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

polymorphism

(noun) (genetics) the genetic variation within a population that natural selection can operate on

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

polymorphism (countable and uncountable, plural polymorphisms)

The ability to assume different forms or shapes.

(biology) The coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.

(object-oriented programming) The feature pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for an instance of a method to have several definitions.

(mathematics, type theory) The property of certain typed formal systems of allowing for the use of type variables and binders/quantifiers over those type variables; likewise, the property of certain expressions (within such typed formal systems) of making use of at least one such typed variable.

(crystallography) The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism.

(genetics) The regular existence of two or more different genotypes within a given species or population; also, variability of amino acid sequences within a gene's protein.

Hyponyms

• ad-hoc polymorphism

• dynamic polymorphism

• inclusion polymorphism

• parametric polymorphism

• static polymorphism

• subtype polymorphism

Source: Wiktionary

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Pol`y*mor"phism, n.

1. (Crystallog.)

Definition: Same as Pleomorphism.

2. (Biol.) (a) The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form. (b) Existence in many forms; the coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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