Main Entry:

poly·mor·phism

Pronunciation:

\ˌpä-lē-ˈmȯr-ˌfi-zəm\

Function:

noun

Date:

1839

: the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms: as a (1): existence of a species in several forms independent of the variations of sex (2): existence of a gene in several allelic forms ; also : a variation in a specific DNA sequence (3): existence of a molecule (as an enzyme) in several forms in a single species b: the property of crystallizing in two or more forms with distinct structure

— poly·mor·phic \-fik\ adjective

— poly·mor·phi·cal·ly \-fi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb