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Glite Dictionary
bicephalous

bicephalous

9.9
Having two heads on the same body
  • adjective
  • /ˌbaɪˈsɛfələs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bicefálico
  • Some rare animals are born bicephalous, an unusual biological phenomenon.

Examples

  • The ancient statue depicts a bicephalous deity watching over the temple.

  • In mythology, the bicephalous serpent is often considered a symbol of duality.

  • The bicephalous creature fascinated the scientists.

  • Is a bicephalous organism common in nature?

  • In mythology, the bicephalous creature represents the concept of duality in its two heads.

  • Some rare species can be bicephalous, making them a fascinating subject of study for biologists.

  • The artist created a painting of a bicephalous figure, symbolizing the conflict between two minds.

Synonyms

bicephalic
vsbicephalous
  • Specialized
9.9

Having two heads or two parts that look like heads

refers to exactly two true heads rather than head-like parts

How Headed

polycephalous
  • Specialized
9.9
bicephalous
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

bicephalous positive

Morphology

bicephalous = bicephal (semi-transparent) = bi + cephal + ous

The prefix 'bi-' clearly signals 'two', but 'cephal' is a Greek combining form (not a familiar standalone English word), so the formation is only partially transparent to average learners.

Etymology

Bicephalous is made from bi- meaning 'two' and cephal- meaning 'head', and you can see the same bi- in bicycle. So bicephalous literally means 'two-headed', which is why we use it for animals, statues, or pictures that have two heads.