heteromorphic

1 of 2

adjective

het·​ero·​mor·​phic ˌhe-tə-rə-ˈmȯr-fik 

1

: deviating from the usual form

2

: exhibiting diversity of form or forms

heteromorphic pairs of chromosomes

heteromorphism

ˌhe-tə-rə-ˈmȯr-ˌfi-zəm 

noun

heteromorphism

2 of 2

noun

het·​er·​o·​mor·​phism

plural -s

1

: the quality or state of being heteromorphic

2

: dissimilarity in crystal form shown by compounds of similar composition

—contrasted with homeomorphism and isomorphism

3

: heterogony sense 1

4

: polymorphism

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary

Noun

International Scientific Vocabulary heter- + -morphism

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heteromorphic

• anthropomorphic
• homeomorphic
• automorphic
• geomorphic
• holomorphic
• homomorphic
• isomorphic
• meromorphic
• metamorphic
• monomorphic
• polymorphic
• dimorphic

Medical Definition

heteromorphic

adjective

het·​ero·​mor·​phic -ˈmȯr-fik 

variants also heteromorphous

-fəs 

1

: deviating from the usual form

2

: unlike in form or size

—used specifically of synaptic chromosomes

the X and Y chromosomes constitute a heteromorphic pair

heteromorphic bivalents

compare homomorphic sense 2

heteromorphism

-ˌfiz-əm 

noun