Metamorphose
verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Of a moth or insect, to undergo metamorphosis. intransitive
- 2 change in outward structure or looks wordnet
- 3 To undergo some transformation. broadly, intransitive
"In fact, perhaps this is the pure and perfect incest: the brother realising that the sister’s virginity must be destroyed in order to have existed at all, taking that virginity in the person of the brother-in-law, the man whom he would be if he could become, metamorphose into, the lover, the husband; by whom he would be despoiled, choose for despoiler, if the could become, metamorphose into the sister, the mistress, the bride."
- 4 change completely the nature or appearance of wordnet
- 5 To transform (something) so that it has a completely different appearance. transitive
Example
More examples"The brightening of the night also worries biologists, who say artificial lighting disrupts bird migration and the development and behavior of several other animals. At a recent [21-22 Feb.] Washington meeting of experts from several fields to discuss the night, evolutionary biologist Bryant Buchanan of Utica College in New York State cited studies showing that fewer frogs and salamanders metamorphose when the night sky is lighter, and pond snails do not grow as large as normal."
Etymology
From French métamorphoser, from Old French metamorphose, from Latin metamorphōsis; see metamorphosis.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.