metamorphosis

US /ˌmɛtəˈmɔrfəsɪs/ UK /ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a complete change of form or nature, as a caterpillar into a butterfly

The shy student's metamorphosis into a confident leader amazed us.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a complete change of form... transformation transmutation transfiguration change mutation conversion transmogrification

Opposites

stasis stagnation

Word family

Derived forms metamorphose

Related forms metamorphic morph metamorphose

Simplified etymology

Metamorphosis entered English through Latin from Greek metamorphoun, meaning “to transform” or “change shape.” Its use was associated with Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a collection of stories about gods and mortals transformed into objects, plants, or animals.

Etymology

From Latin metamorphōsis, from Ancient Greek metamórphōsis 'a transforming', from metamorphoūn 'to transform', from meta- 'change' + morphē 'form, shape'.

metamórphōsis Ancient Greek meta- Ancient Greek morphē Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# metamorphosis

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌmɛtəˈmɔrfəsɪs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌmɛtəˈmɔːfəsɪs/

## Meanings
1. a complete change of form or nature, as a caterpillar into a butterfly

## Examples
- The shy student's metamorphosis into a confident leader amazed us.

## Synonyms
- transformation
- transmutation
- transfiguration
- change
- mutation
- conversion
- transmogrification

## Antonyms
- stasis
- stagnation

## Derived Forms
- metamorphose

## Related Forms
- metamorphic
- morph
- metamorphose

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: metamórphōsis
- Root: meta-
- Root: morphē
- Affix: -osis - condition

## Etymology
From Latin metamorphōsis, from Ancient Greek metamórphōsis 'a transforming', from metamorphoūn 'to transform', from meta- 'change' + morphē 'form, shape'.

## AI Etymology
Metamorphosis comes from Latin metamorphōsis, from Ancient Greek metamórphōsis 'a transforming', from metamorphoūn 'to transform', from meta- 'change' + morphē 'form, shape'. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun, it denotes "a complete change of form or nature, as a caterpillar into a butterfly", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Ancient Greek metamórphōsis, Ancient Greek meta-, and Ancient Greek morphē. Derivative forms include metamorphose; related words include metamorphic, morph, metamorphose.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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