morphology

noun mor·phol·o·gy \mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jē\

linguistics : the study and description of how words are formed in language

biology : the study of the form and structure of animals and plants

: the form and structure of a plant or animal or any of its parts

Full Definition of MORPHOLOGY

a : a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants

b : the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts

a : a study and description of word formation (as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language

b : the system of word-forming elements and processes in a language

a : a study of structure or form

b : structure, form

: the external structure of rocks in relation to the development of erosional forms or topographic features

— mor·pho·log·i·cal \ˌmȯr-fə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ also mor·pho·log·ic \-ˈlä-jik\ adjective

— mor·pho·log·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— mor·phol·o·gist \mȯr-ˈfä-lə-jist\ noun

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Origin of MORPHOLOGY

German Morphologie, from morph- + -logie -logy

First Known Use: 1830

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

Rhymes with MORPHOLOGY

chronology, gemology, graphology, horology, neurology, oology, pathology, psychology, technology, trichology, urology

Medical Dictionary

morphology

noun mor·phol·o·gy \mȯr-ˈfäl-ə-jē\

plural mor·phol·o·gies

Medical Definition of MORPHOLOGY

: a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants especially with respect to the forms, relations, metamorphoses, and phylogenetic development of organs apart from their functions—see anatomy 1; compare physiology 1

: the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts