Metamorphosis

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Metamorphosis \Met`a*mor"pho*sis\, n.; pl. {Metamorphoses}. [L.,
     fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to be transformed; meta` beyond, over +
     morfh` form.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. Change of form, or structure; transformation.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. (Biol.) A change in the form or function of a living
        organism, by a natural process of growth or development;
        as, the metamorphosis of the yolk into the embryo, of a
        tadpole into a frog, or of a bud into a blossom.
        Especially, that form of sexual reproduction in which an
        embryo undergoes a series of marked changes of external
        form, as the chrysalis stage, pupa stage, etc., in
        insects. In these intermediate stages sexual reproduction
        is usually impossible, but they ultimately pass into final
        and sexually developed forms, from the union of which
        organisms are produced which pass through the same cycle
        of changes. See {Transformation}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Physiol.) The change of material of one kind into another
        through the agency of the living organism; metabolism.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Vegetable metamorphosis} (Bot.), the doctrine that flowers
        are homologous with leaf buds, and that the floral organs
        are transformed leaves.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  metamorphosis
       n 1: the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult
            that occurs in some animals [syn: {metabolism}]
       2: a striking change in appearance or character or
          circumstances; "the metamorphosis of the old house into
          something new and exciting" [syn: {transfiguration}]
       3: a complete change of physical form or substance especially
          as by magic or witchcraft
       [also: {metamorphoses} (pl)]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  30 Moby Thesaurus words for "metamorphosis":
     avatar, catabolism, catalysis, consubstantiation, displacement,
     heterotopia, metabolism, metagenesis, metamorphism, metastasis,
     metathesis, metempsychosis, mutant, mutated form, mutation,
     permutation, reincarnation, sport, transanimation, transfiguration,
     transfigurement, transformation, transformism, translation,
     translocation, transmigration, transmogrification, transmutation,
     transposition, transubstantiation