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Glite Dictionary
🔤 Word change 🧬 Cell type change
metaplasia

metaplasia

9.9
A change in how a word looks or sounds
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛtəˈpleɪziə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : metátesis
  • Through metaplasia, some words have changed their spelling and pronunciation over time.

Examples

  • The linguist studied the metaplasia that occurred in Old English place names.

  • The professor gave examples of metaplasia in the evolution of Latin words.

  • The term metaplasia refers to a change in the form of a word.

  • In linguistics, metaplasia can occur through various processes.

  • The linguist studied the metaplasia that occurred in Old English place names.

  • Through metaplasia, some words have changed their spelling and pronunciation over time.

  • The professor gave examples of metaplasia in the evolution of Latin words.

Surface Forms

metaplasia singular
metaplasias plural

Morphology

metaplasia = meta + plas + ia

This is a learned classical term built from meta- and a bound root meaning shaping or formation, but the parts are not transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Metaplasia comes from the Greek parts meta- 'change' and -plasia 'formation', and you can see the idea in metamorphosis, a word for a 'big change'. So it means 'changing form', which fits when a word or sound has letters or syllables added, removed, or moved.