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POLYMORPHIC
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Dictionary entry overview: What does polymorphic mean?
• POLYMORPHIC (adjective)
The adjective POLYMORPHIC has 3 senses:
1. relating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms
2. relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population
3. having or occurring in several distinct forms
Familiarity information: POLYMORPHIC used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Relating to the crystallization of a compound in two or more different forms
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Synonyms:
polymorphic; polymorphous
Context example:
polymorphous crystallization
Domain category:
chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)
Pertainym:
polymorphism ((chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound)
Derivation:
polymorphism ((chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Relating to the occurrence of more than one kind of individual (independent of sexual differences) in an interbreeding population
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Synonyms:
polymorphic; polymorphous
Context example:
a polymorphic species
Domain category:
biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)
Pertainym:
polymorphism ((biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences))
Derivation:
polymorph (an organism that can assume more than one adult form as in the castes of ants or termites)
polymorphism ((biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences))
Sense 3
Meaning:
Having or occurring in several distinct forms
Synonyms:
polymorphic; polymorphous
Context example:
a polymorphous god
Similar:
multiform (occurring in or having many forms or shapes or appearances)
Derivation:
polymorph (an organism that can assume more than one adult form as in the castes of ants or termites)
Context examples
HLA-DQ antigen is a class of glycoproteins that consist of dimers of alpha and beta subunits, which are encoded by the polymorphic human genes HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1, respectively.
(HLA-DQ Antigen, NCI Thesaurus)
The gene is polymorphic and typing is often performed to determine histocompatibility for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
(HLA-DPA1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)
In some cases, a polymorphic or monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder may follow this early lesion.
(Infectious Mononucleosis-Like Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)
HTR2A contains several polymorphic sites.
(HTR2A 1 Allele, NCI Thesaurus)
HLA-DR53 antigen is a set of polymorphic glycoproteins encoded by the human HLA-DRB4 gene.
(HLA-DR53 Antigen, NCI Thesaurus)
HLA-DR15 antigen is a set of polymorphic glycoprotein complexes encoded by the human HLA-DRA and HLA-DRB1 genes.
(HLA-DR15 Antigen, NCI Thesaurus)
HLA-DR52 antigen is a set of polymorphic glycoproteins encoded by the human HLA-DRB3 gene.
(HLA-DR52 Antigen, NCI Thesaurus)
HLA-DR51 antigen is a set of polymorphic glycoproteins encoded by the human HLA-DRB5 gene.
(HLA-DR51 Antigen, NCI Thesaurus)
The CYP2D6 gene is highly polymorphic in the human population.
(CYP2D6 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)
CETP B2 lacks a polymorphic TaqI restriction site in intron 1, present in CETP B1.
(CETP 2 Allele, NCI Thesaurus)
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