dimorphism
|di-mor-phism|
C1
🇺🇸
/daɪˈmɔːrˌfɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/daɪˈmɔː.fɪ.zəm/
two distinct forms
Etymology
Etymology Information
'dimorphism' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'di-' meaning 'two' and 'morphē' meaning 'form'.
Historical Evolution
'dimorphism' changed from the Greek word 'dimorphos' and was adopted into modern English as 'dimorphism' in the 19th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'having two forms', and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the existence of two distinct forms within a species'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the occurrence of two distinct forms among individuals of the same species, such as in color, size, or structure.
Sexual dimorphism is common in many animal species.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/04 15:56