polymorphic C2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˌpɑliˈmɔɹfɪk/ See IPA manual Freq #114984 Meanings 1 adj having or occurring in several distinct forms The human race is both polymorphic and polytypic. 2 adj relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population A polymorphic species. 3 adj Relating to polymorphism (any sense), able to have several shapes or forms. I refer to those genera which have sometimes been called "protean" or "polymorphic," in which the species present an inordinate amount of variation; and hardly two naturalists can agree which forms to rank as species and which as varieties. 4 adj Having or relating to the ability to take multiple data types for a single parameter. Polymorphic redefinition in C++ is achieved by the use of virtual functions. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · having or occurring in... polymorphous 2 adj · relating to the occurrence... polymorphous 3 adj · relating to polymorphism... multiform More protean ↔ Opposites monomorphic Word family Derived forms hyperpolymorphicnonpolymorphicpolymorphically Appears in Phrases (1) See all polymorphic species a species containing distinct forms that are not simply differences between males and females Adjective + noun Etymology From poly- + -morphic. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # polymorphic **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˌpɑliˈmɔɹfɪk/ **Frequency rank:** 114984 ## Meanings 1. having or occurring in several distinct forms 2. relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population 3. Relating to polymorphism (any sense), able to have several shapes or forms. 4. Having or relating to the ability to take multiple data types for a single parameter. ## Examples - The human race is both polymorphic and polytypic. - A polymorphic species. - I refer to those genera which have sometimes been called "protean" or "polymorphic," in which the species present an inordinate amount of variation; and hardly two naturalists can agree which forms to rank as species and which as varieties. - Polymorphic redefinition in C++ is achieved by the use of virtual functions. ## Synonyms - protean ## Antonyms - monomorphic ## Derived Forms - hyperpolymorphic - nonpolymorphic - polymorphically ## Etymology From poly- + -morphic. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown