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pleomorphismmore about pleomorphism

pleomorphism


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pleomorphism  \Ple`o*mor"phism\,  n.  [Gr.  ?  more  +  ?  form.] 
  1.  (Crystallog.)  The  property  of  crystallizing  under  two  or 
  more  distinct  fundamental  forms,  including  dimorphism  and 
  trimorphism. 
 
  2.  (Biol.)  The  theory  that  the  various  genera  of  bacteria  are 
  phases  or  variations  of  growth  of  a  number  of  Protean 
  species,  each  of  which  may  exhibit,  according  to 
  undetermined  conditions,  all  or  some  of  the  forms 
  characteristic  of  the  different  genera  and  species. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  pleomorphism 
  n  1:  (chemistry)  the  existence  of  different  kinds  of  crystal  of 
  the  same  chemical  compound  [syn:  {polymorphism}] 
  2:  (biology)  the  appearance  of  two  or  more  distinctly  different 
  forms  in  the  life  cycle  of  some  organisms 




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