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🔀 Having many forms 💎 Many crystal forms 🦎 Different types
polymorphous

polymorphous

1 9.2
Having many different forms or shapes
  • adjective
  • /ˌpɒliˈmɔrfəs/
translation icon : polimórfico
  • The artist's style is polymorphous, as she often shifts between abstract and realistic forms in her paintings.

And that really is similar to Freud's it this, this sort of, you know, inco it polymorphous can go for this, go for this, go for this has no internal limits.

Examples

  • More numerous, disparate, and functionally polymorphous than the SA, the ISA exert power not primarily through repression but through ideology.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Even that seemed to melt into the silhouettes of inanimate objects, or to change as if the kid were a polymorphous creature that could assume a variety of forms.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • We learn... a consciousness with a polymorphous nature...

    Academic text (1992)

  • The polymorphous, multiple nature of power makes resistance difficult and recuperation easy.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The images that emerge in this vision are polymorphous, changing their shape under flashing iridescence and radiance.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Instead, Masschelein gives voice to the polymorphous aspect of the term, articulating the rhythm of the concept as doubling and folding back on itself.

    Blog text (22)

  • Though she answers this question in the negative, arguing that "narrative itself is potentially polyvocal and polymorphous," narrative's potential can only be achieved by "breaking open... conventional narrative" (180).

    Academic text (2000)

  • The visitor is continuously astir, spinning round in a whirl, sensations that arise from the polymorphous and polychromatic vision (pikilia).

    Academic text (2006)

  • The fiery, iridescent, and polymorphous nature of porphyreos exemplifies the Byzantine love for glitter and change and makes it a fitting actor in Byzantine mimesis.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The virus exhibits a polymorphous structure, changing its form to adapt to different environments.

Synonyms

varied
vspolymorphous
54 3.3

Containing many different kinds, not all the same

focuses on distinct forms and shape changes rather than general variety
polymorphic
vspolymorphous
  • Specialized
1 8.9

Having many different forms, like minerals or animals with different looks

is used broadly across settings and not limited to scientific subjects
multiform
vspolymorphous
6.8

Having many different forms or shapes

is about the ability to assume different shapes rather than mere appearance
heterotypic
vspolymorphous
  • Specialized
9.9

Not the same type of cell or structure

emphasizes the ability to exist in several forms rather than differing types

How Variable

polymorphous
1 9.2
diverse
297 3.4
varied
54 3.3
uniform
92 3.7

Surface Forms

polymorphous positive

Morphology

polymorphous = polymorph (transparent) = poly + morph + ous

The base word polymorph already expresses 'having multiple forms', and adding the adjective suffix -ous preserves that meaning.

Etymology

Polymorphous comes from the Greek parts poly- 'many' and morph 'form' or 'shape'. So it means something that can take 'many forms', for example in art or story it describes identities or creatures that change appearance.