polymorphism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the occurrence of two or more distinct forms or genetic variants within a population

   The researchers linked a common genetic polymorphism to differences in drug metabolism.

2. 2
   noun

   the ability of a chemical substance to crystallize in more than one structural form

   The drug's polymorphism required careful control of the crystallization process.

3. 3
   noun

   in computing, the ability of one interface or operation to work with objects of different types

   Subtype polymorphism lets the same method call invoke behavior appropriate to each object.

4. 4
   noun

   the quality of occurring in or assuming several different forms

   The species shows striking polymorphism in wing color.

From poly- ("many") + -morphism ("form or shape"), ultimately from Greek polys and morphe. Specialized senses developed in biology, chemistry, and computing around the shared idea of one thing taking multiple forms.

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