noun
- an organism that occurs in several different forms
- a substance that can crystallize in two or more distinct forms
Usage: biology
Usage: chemistry
Examples
- The butterfly is a polymorph, existing as caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult.
- Some species of ants are polymorphs with different castes.
- Carbon is a polymorph that can form diamond or graphite.
- The mineral calcite is a polymorph of calcium carbonate.
- Scientists study polymorphs to understand genetic variation.
- This chemical compound exists as several polymorphs under different conditions.