POLYMORPHOUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does polymorphous mean? 

• POLYMORPHOUS (adjective)
  The adjective POLYMORPHOUS has 3 senses:

1. relating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms

2. relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population

3. having or occurring in several distinct forms

  Familiarity information: POLYMORPHOUS used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POLYMORPHOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

polymorphic; polymorphous

Context example:

polymorphous crystallization

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Pertainym:

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

Derivation:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

polymorphic; polymorphous

Context example:

a polymorphic species

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Pertainym:

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

Derivation:

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having or occurring in several distinct forms

Synonyms:

polymorphic; polymorphous

Context example:

a polymorphous god

Similar:

multiform (occurring in or having many forms or shapes or appearances)

 Context examples 

It includes the salivary gland polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma, salivary gland low grade cribriform cystadenocarcinoma, and low grade salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

(Low Grade Salivary Gland Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Representative examples include adenoid cystic carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma, and mucinous adenocarcinoma.

(Minor Salivary Gland Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)

This disorder is often Epstein-Barr virus positive, and morphologically it may resemble large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, or a polymorphous post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

(Methotrexate-Associated Lymphoproliferative Disorder, NCI Thesaurus/WHO)

A mature T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterized by systemic disease and a polymorphous infiltrate involving lymph nodes.

(angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, NCI Thesaurus/WHO)