Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Of, relating to, or characterized by metamorphosis.
- adj. Geology Changed in structure or composition as a result of metamorphism. Used of rock.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Producing metamorphosis; changing the form or structure; transforming: as, a metamorphic cause or agency; metamorphic action.
- Exhibiting metamorphosis or metamorphism; changed in form or structure; metamorphosed.
- See metamorphism.
- Noting races formed by intercrossing of archimorphic races in those parts of the world where distinct archimorphic races come into contact. Examples of metamorphic races are the Malay, Ethiopians, and Hottentots.
Wiktionary
- adj. geology Having been structurally altered as a result of, or resulting from, exposure to intense heat and/or pressure (at the contact zone between colliding plates, for example).
- n. mineralogy A rock that has been changed from its original form by subjection to heat and/or pressure.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Subject to change; changeable; variable.
- adj. Causing a change of structure.
- adj. (Geol.) Pertaining to, produced by, or exhibiting, certain changes which minerals or rocks may have undergone since their original deposition; -- especially applied to the recrystallization which sedimentary rocks have undergone through the influence of heat and pressure, after which they are called
metamorphic rocks.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. characterized by metamorphosis or change in physical form or substance
- adj. of or relating to metamorphosis (especially of rocks)
Etymologies
- From metamorphosis + -ic. (Wiktionary)
- metamorph(osis) + -ic. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“In its more limited sense, the term metamorphic is confined to those changes of the rock which are produced, not by the effect of the atmosphere or of water on the exposed surfaces, but which are produced, directly or indirectly, by agencies seated in the interior of the earth.”
COSMOS: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe, Vol. 1
“Rocks modified in this way are termed metamorphic rocks.”
“The conception of rocks as representing phases or stages in a progressive series of changes called the metamorphic cycle aids greatly in correlating and holding in mind many details of rock nature and origin, and brings into some sort of perspective the conditions which have produced rocks.”
“There is also a class of rocks, called metamorphic rocks, including some kinds of marble.”
Young Folks' Library, Volume XI (of 20) Wonders of Earth, Sea and Sky
“When we reached an elevation of about two hundred feet, the coralline rock which fringes the shore was succeeded by a hard crystalline rock, a kind of metamorphic sandstone.”
“I may observe that in the case of the frozen snow the columnar structure must be owing to a "metamorphic" action, and not to a process during deposition.”
“Under the general heading of common rocks are included the ordinary igneous, sedimentary, and "metamorphic" rocks, and the unconsolidated clays, sands, and gravels characteristic of surface conditions, which are mined and quarried for commercial use.”
“Soil originate from rocks, igneous, sedimentary, and "metamorphic" by processes of weathering, and by the mixing of the altered mineral products with decayed plant remains or _humus_.”
“I believe that the geographical distribution of organic beings in past and present times, the kind of affinity linking them together, their so-called "metamorphic" and "abortive" organs, appear in favour of this view.”
The Foundations of the Origin of Species Two Essays written in 1842 and 1844
“Precipitous cliffs of somber rock, ancient metamorphic seabeds and long-frozen lava towers over the milky flow of the river and over us come to challenge it.”
The Huffington Post: Richard Bangs: The Pakistan Osama bin Laden Never Knew, Part 2
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘metamorphic’.
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ghost
This is Ghost List 2 ( the kind that go 'boo!' ) :P
( open list )
more:
http://www.wordnik.com/lists/macabrephantom, spectral, specter, spectre, spooky, poltergeist, haunt, spirit, banshee, cryptic, shadow, phantasm and 311 more...
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geologic
karst, meander, lapis lazuli, metasomatic, amphibole, metamorphic, ultrabasic, chilled margin, metavolcanic, subvolcanic, volcanic bomb, pyroclastic and 116 more...
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The Last Werewolf
This novel by Glen Duncan, aside from being a ripping yarn and beautifully written, is just littered with words that I had to look up and discover that often his use of the word not only fitted per...
gurns, bok, chimney breast, dichotomy, Platonic form, filthy, Platonic Form, mathematics, BAM, skirls, clarity, blundering and 298 more...
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wordsmith III: revenge of wordie
sedimentary, igneous, segment, surfeit, unctuous, magma, garble, ransack, concubine, coincide, metamorphic, clastic and 208 more...
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Geology
baraboo, monadnock, peneplain, endrumpf, peneplanation, cairngorm, paleooology, stream capture, allochthon, slickensides, graywacke, tectonics and 56 more...
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plugging in the fairy dress
I had a prof in undergrad who referred to students' "fairy dress" words -- terms picked up in the first throes of learning theory that students wore out in inappropriate places, like a small child ...
chiasmus, chiasmatic, zeugma, all our relations, thisconnectionofe..., yous, reciprocal, relational, connective, collective, collaborative, oscillation and 28 more...
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the geologist
I like rocks. And all the names attributed to rocks and other geologic formations. Also see the earth list.
gneiss, breccia, granite, sedimentary, metamorphic, shale, igneous, geode, gabbro, lapillus, sandstone, limestone and 13 more...
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Math & Science Words
used in math & science. That is all.
associative, metamorphic, nomenclature, binomial, biological, integer
Tweets
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