Noun: pleomorphism ,plee-u'mor,fi-zum
- (biology) the appearance of two or more distinctly different forms in the life cycle of some organisms
"Pleomorphism in certain bacteria allows them to adapt to different environments"
- (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound
"The pleomorphism of carbon allows it to exist as both graphite and diamond";
- polymorphism
Derived forms: pleomorphisms
Type of: chemical phenomenon, organic phenomenon
Encyclopedia: Pleomorphism