metamorphic

adjective

meta·​mor·​phic ˌme-tə-ˈmȯr-fik How to pronounce metamorphic (audio)
1
: of or relating to metamorphosis
2
of a rock : of, relating to, or produced by metamorphism
metamorphically adverb

Examples of metamorphic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The most transformational season in college football just became more metamorphic. Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 The hard rocks are crystalline igneous and metamorphic masses created deep within root of the ancient Appalachian Mountains by scalding heat and extreme pressure. Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023 One kind of code, for instance, called metamorphic malware, changes its syntax each generation but can maintain the same ultimate goals—what the program is trying to accomplish. Sarah Scoles, Popular Science, 2 Nov. 2023 The Cancer new moon enters you into a time of metamorphic transition. USA TODAY, 17 July 2023 Marble is a metamorphic rock, and it’s formed when existing rock (in this case, limestone) is physically or chemically transformed by high heat without actually melting. Sarah Archer, ELLE Decor, 8 Sep. 2022 The end result is to turn a fully mature cell back into something resembling a stem cell, with all the metamorphic powers that entails. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2018 Most important in their considerations is the type of stone at a prospective search site, which is almost always sedimentary rather than igneous or metamorphic. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2023 Pleistocene Epoch ice sheets once covered the ancient metamorphic rocks of the shield. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2014

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metamorphic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of metamorphic was in 1816

Dictionary Entries Near metamorphic

Cite this Entry

“Metamorphic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metamorphic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

metamorphic

adjective
meta·​mor·​phic ˌmet-ə-ˈmȯr-fik How to pronounce metamorphic (audio)
: changed into a more compact form by the action of pressure, heat, and water
a metamorphic rock
compare igneous, sedimentary sense 2

Medical Definition

metamorphic

adjective
meta·​mor·​phic ˌmet-ə-ˈmȯr-fik How to pronounce metamorphic (audio)
: of or relating to metamorphosis
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!