metamorphosis

CEFRC1

/ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A complete change from one form into a very different one.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A change in the form and often habits of an animal after the embryonic stage during normal development (e.g. the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly or a tadpole into a frog).

Examples

  • She's undergone a metamorphosis from a quiet, bookish girl to an outspoken feminist activist.

  • Since you met your new girlfriend, you've undergone a metamorphosis.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [ˌmɛɾəˈmoɹfəsɪs]
  • /ˌmɛtəˈmoɹfəsɪs/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A noticeable change in character, appearance, function, or condition.

  2. A transformation, such as one performed by magic.

  3. A change, usually degenerative, in the structure of a specific body tissue.

More examples

In context

  • With Severne she along doth go, / Her Metamorphosis to show ; / And makes the wand’ring Wy declaim / In honour of the British name.

  • The station has been refurbished both at ground level and below ground, where the wide, fluorescently lit platforms are an almost unrecognisable metamorphosis of the dingy, reeking Low Level of old.

  • Where is the gloriously-decisive change, / Metamorphosis the immeasurable / Of human clay to divine gold, we looked / Should, in some poor sort, justify its price ?

Synonyms

Quick test

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The process of a tadpole turning into a frog is called blank.

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Nearby

Origin

noun

First attested in 1533, from Latin metamorphōsis, from Ancient Greek μεταμόρφωσις (metamórphōsis), from μετά (metá, “change”) + μορφή (morphḗ, “form”). Analyzable as meta- + -morph + -osis