👦 Short stature 🌱 Small plant growth

dwarfism

6.2

A plant condition that makes a plant grow much smaller and more compact than normal

noun
/ˈdwɔrfɪzəm/

Specialized

: enanismo

The nursery introduced a new dwarfism trait in several conifer varieties for small urban gardens.

Examples

The dwarfism in these plants is due to a genetic mutation.
Cold stress during early development can cause temporary dwarfism in young seedlings, reducing their height.
After years of selective breeding, the rose breeder promoted dwarfism to make plants suitable for containers.
Many gardeners appreciate the dwarfism trait in bonsai trees.
Certain environmental factors can induce dwarfism in plants, leading to smaller growth.
Selective breeding can sometimes result in dwarfism among agricultural crops, creating more manageable sizes.
The genetic mutation responsible for dwarfism in some tree species allows them to thrive in compact spaces.

Synonyms

dwarf

vsdwarfism

14 3.9

A plant or animal much smaller than others of its kind

refers to the underlying condition producing small compact growth

stuntedness

vsdwarfism

Specialized

7.6

A condition in which a person is much shorter because of poor growth in childhood

is a trait that can be genetic or induced

Antonyms

strong-growing

4.1

Becomes larger very quickly, often about plants or tumors

How Compact

flat-growing

Specialized

5.2

dwarfism

Specialized

6.2

miniature

101 3.6

Surface Forms

dwarfism singular

dwarfisms plural

Morphology

dwarfism = dwarf (transparent) = dwarf + ism

Same morphological formation as the medical sense: 'dwarf' + '-ism' denotes the condition or trait of being small in size, which is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Dwarfism comes from the old English word dwarf, meaning 'something very small', plus -ism, meaning 'a condition', and gardeners use the same idea for plants. So in botany dwarfism means the trait or condition of unusually small or compact growth.