polymorphic

/,pɔli'mɔ:fik/ Cách viết khác : (polymorphous) /,pɔli'mɔ:fəs/

Thân thiện

A single species of butterfly exhibits polymorphic wing patterns in this population.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or occurring in several distinct forms: Describes something that can exist in multiple different shapes, types, or manifestations.
   • Relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual in an interbreeding population: In biology, describes a species where multiple distinct forms or morphs exist within a single population, independent of sexual differences.
   • Relating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms: In chemistry and materials science, describes a substance that can solidify into more than one type of crystal structure.

Usage Examples

• General Use:
  • The artist's style is highly polymorphic, shifting from realism to abstract expressionism.
  • The virus is polymorphic, constantly changing its code to evade detection.
• Biology:
  • The butterfly species is polymorphic, with wing colors ranging from bright yellow to dark brown.
• Chemistry/Materials Science:
  • Calcium carbonate is a polymorphic mineral, known as both calcite and aragonite.

Advanced Usage

• In Computer Science: Often used to describe polymorphic code (e.g., viruses that change) or a key principle in object-oriented programming (polymorphism), where objects of different types can be accessed through the same interface.
  • The software uses polymorphic classes to handle different data types with a single method.
• In Genetics: Refers to genetic polymorphism, the occurrence of two or more clearly different forms or alleles in a population.
  • The study focused on a polymorphic gene associated with disease resistance.

Variants and Related Words

• Polymorphism (noun): The condition of occurring in several different forms.
  • Genetic polymorphism is common in natural populations.
• Polymorphous (adjective): A synonym for polymorphic, often used interchangeably, though sometimes with a slightly broader or more general connotation.
  • The creature had a polymorphous nature, difficult to classify.

Synonyms

• Multiform: Having many forms.
• Variable: Liable to change or vary.
• Protean: Tending or able to change frequently or easily; versatile. (Emphasizes adaptability.)

Antonyms

• Monomorphic: Having only a single form.
• Uniform: Not varying; the same in all cases and at all times.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having or occurring in several distinct forms
   • man is both polymorphic and polytypic
   • a polymorphous god
2. relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population
   • a polymorphic species
3. relating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms
   • polymorphous crystallization

Từ đồng nghĩa

• polymorphous