morpho-, morph-, -morphous, -morphically, -morphia, -morphosis, -morphously, -morphy, -morphic, -morphism +
(Greek: shape, form, figure, appearance)
Origins of morpho- words
The Roman god of sleep is Somnus; so, when we are sleepy, we are "somnolent". Sleep walking is "somnambulism" which in Latin means exactly the same thing; that is, "sleepwalking".
The son of Somnus is Morpheus, the god of dreams, indicating that sleep gives birth to dreams. Morpheus goes back through Latin to the Greek word for "form" or "shape" because dreams are forms and shapes developed in the mind while sleeping.
alphitomorphous
1. Having the appearance of barley-meal; applied to pulverulent microscopic fungi, parasitical on plants.
2. Having a characteristic mealy or granular appearance; used with reference to some plant diseases.
3. Having the appeasrance of peeled (pearl) barley; applied to certain fungi.
2. Having a characteristic mealy or granular appearance; used with reference to some plant diseases.
3. Having the appeasrance of peeled (pearl) barley; applied to certain fungi.
amorph
1. A gene which is inactive; therefore, an amorphic gene.
2. Something that lacks a discernible shape and thus can be described as amorphous.
2. Something that lacks a discernible shape and thus can be described as amorphous.
amorphism
A state of being amorphous; especially, a state of being without crystallization even in the minutest particles, as in glass, opal, etc.
amorphophallus
A giant plant of the genus Amorphophallus from the eastern tropics, grown
as a curiosity.
It has large spathes (a large bract or a specialized leaf, usually smaller than the foliage leaves, often colored, which surrounds the inflorescence of aroid plants and palms) containing many bad-smelling flowers.
amorphous (adjective)
1. Having no definite form; shapeless, formless; such as, amorphous clouds: "Lying on his back in the grassy field, Brendan could watch the amorphous cloud formations float overhead."
2. Not belonging to a particular type or pattern: "Toby's amorphous commitment to regularly paid employment was difficult to understand."
3. Of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: "Kari has an amorphous style; as well as, an amorphous personality."
4. In petrology, a mineral occurring in a mass, as without stratification, form, or crystalline structure: "The amorphous layer of sand was mixed with an unidentified hard substance which made drilling difficult."
5. In chemistry, not crystalline: "The crystalline structures were noticeably distinctive among the other more amorphous material."
6. In biology, having structural components that are not clearly differentiated, as the nuclear material in certain bacteria: "Using a powerful microscope, Noah, the botanist, studied the amorphous nuclear material of the bacteria."
2. Not belonging to a particular type or pattern: "Toby's amorphous commitment to regularly paid employment was difficult to understand."
3. Of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: "Kari has an amorphous style; as well as, an amorphous personality."
4. In petrology, a mineral occurring in a mass, as without stratification, form, or crystalline structure: "The amorphous layer of sand was mixed with an unidentified hard substance which made drilling difficult."
5. In chemistry, not crystalline: "The crystalline structures were noticeably distinctive among the other more amorphous material."
6. In biology, having structural components that are not clearly differentiated, as the nuclear material in certain bacteria: "Using a powerful microscope, Noah, the botanist, studied the amorphous nuclear material of the bacteria."
amorphozoa, amorphozoic
Animals without a mouth or regular internal organs; such as, the sponges.
amorphus (s), amorphi (pl), amorphuses (pl)
A fetus without a head, heart, or limbs.
amorphy
Without shape or form; shapelessness.
anamorph
A somatic or reproductive structure that originates without nuclear recombination (asexual reproduction); the imperfect part of the life cycle of fungi.
The teleomorph describes a fungus when it reproduces sexually. The anamorph is a name that refers to the fungus when it reproduces asexually. The holomorph refers to the "whole fungus".
anamorphic
1. Pertaining to a gradual evolution from one type of organism to another.
2. A reference to a kind of distorting optical system; such as, "an anamorphic lense".
3. Motion picture terminology: Cinemascope; an optical system which has different magnifications in the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the picture.
2. A reference to a kind of distorting optical system; such as, "an anamorphic lense".
3. Motion picture terminology: Cinemascope; an optical system which has different magnifications in the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the picture.
anamorphic lens
A lens that produces different magnifications along lines in different directions in the image plane.
anamorphic system
An optical system incorporating a cylindrical surface in which the image is distorted so the angle of coverage in a direction perpendicular to the cylinder is different for the image than for the object.
anamorphic zone
The zone of rock flow, as indicated by reactions that may involve decarbonation, dehydration, and deoxidation.
Silicates are built up, and the formation of denser minerals and of compact crystalline structure takes place.
anamorphism
1. The evolution of one type of organism from another by a long series of gradual changes (synonym: anamorphosis; evolutionary increase in complexity of form and function).
2. Metamorphism that occurs deep under the earth's surface which changes simple minerals into complex minerals.
3. A distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner (synonym: anamorphosis).
2. Metamorphism that occurs deep under the earth's surface which changes simple minerals into complex minerals.
3. A distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner (synonym: anamorphosis).
anamorphosis
1. A distorted image or drawing of a distorted image that appears normal when viewed with or reflected from a special device.
2. The process of making distorted images by means of special mirrors or other devices.
3. A gradual change in form from one type to another during the evolution of a group of organisms.
2. The process of making distorted images by means of special mirrors or other devices.
3. A gradual change in form from one type to another during the evolution of a group of organisms.
