morphology

mor·phol·o·gy

noun \mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jē\

Definition of MORPHOLOGY

1

a : a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants b : the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts

2

a : a study and description of word formation (as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language b : the system of word-forming elements and processes in a language

3

a : a study of structure or form b : structure, form

4

: the external structure of rocks in relation to the development of erosional forms or topographic features

— mor·pho·log·i·cal \ˌmȯr-fə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ also mor·pho·log·ic \-ˈlä-jik\ adjective

— mor·pho·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— mor·phol·o·gist \mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jist\ noun

Origin of MORPHOLOGY

German Morphologie, from morph- + -logie -logy

First Known Use: 1830

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

Rhymes with MORPHOLOGY

chronology, gemology, graphology, horology, neurology, oology, pathology, psychology, technology, trichology, urology