Definition of metamorphosis Metamorphosis

/mɛˌtʌmɔˈɹfʌsʌs/ - [metumorfusus] - met•a•mor•pho•sis

We found 13 definitions of metamorphosis from 6 different sources.

What does metamorphosis mean?

Noun Plural: metamorphoses
metamorphosis - the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals
		metabolism
		biological process, organic process a process occurring in living organisms
		hemimetabolism, hemimetaboly, hemimetamorphosis incomplete or partial metamorphosis in insects
		heterometabolism, heterometaboly development of insects with incomplete metamorphosis in which no pupal stage precedes maturity
metamorphosis - a complete change of physical form or substance especially as by magic or witchcraft
		transformation, translation the act of changing in form or shape or appearance; "a photograph is a translation of a scene onto a two-dimensional surface"
metamorphosis - a striking change in appearance or character or circumstances; "the metamorphosis of the old house into something new and exciting"
		transfiguration
		alteration, revision the act of making something different (as e.g. the size of a garment)

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metamorphosis (Noun)
A transformation, such as that of magic or by sorcery.
metamorphosis (Noun)
A noticeable change in character, appearance, function or condition.
metamorphosis (Noun)
A change in the form and often habits of an animal after the embryonic stage during normal development.
metamorphosis (Noun)
A change in the structure of a specific body tissue. Usually degenerative.

metamorphosis (n.)
Change of form, or structure; transformation.
metamorphosis (n.)
A change in the form or function of a living organism, by a natural process of growth or development; as, the metamorphosis of the yolk into the embryo, of a tadpole into a frog, or of a bud into a blossom. Especially, that form of sexual reproduction in which an embryo undergoes a series of marked changes of external form, as the chrysalis stage, pupa stage, etc., in insects. In these intermediate stages sexual reproduction is usually impossible, but they ultimately pass into final and sexually developed forms, from the union of which organisms are produced which pass through the same cycle of changes. See Transformation.
metamorphosis (n.)
The change of material of one kind into another through the agency of the living organism; metabolism.

Metamorphosis in biology means the process of transformation of an insect or amphibian from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages. Life for an insect begins as a larva or nymph then progresses to the pupa stage and ends as an adult.

There are two main types of metamorphosis in insects, hemimetabolism and holometabolism.

Insect metamorphosis.

The Monarch Butterfly goes through four stages of development. Life for a Monarch butterfly begins as an egg hatched from an adult. This egg then develops into a worm-like larva caterpillar. In the pupa or chrysalis stage, the caterpillar spins a silk pad on a twig or leaves and hangs from this pad by its last pair of prolegs. It hangs upside down in the shape of a "J" and then molts leaving it encased in a green exoskeleton. The mature butterfly emerges after about two weeks and feeds on a variety of flowers including milkweed flowers, red clover and goldenrod.