morph
A computer-generated gradual change from one image to another.
Noun grammar, human sciences
- A recurrent distinctive sound or sequence of sounds representing an indivisible morphological form; especially as representing a morpheme.
- Bq. ezpel ['box tree'] likely goes back to *ez-, a morph found in Basque tree names, and *-bel 'dark'. - 2025, Cid Swanenvleugel, The Pre-Roman Elements of the Sardinian Lexicon, page 482:
- An allomorph: one of a set of realizations that a morpheme can have in different contexts.
Origin
Back-formation from morpheme, from Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”). Compare German Morph, from Morphem. Attested since the 1940s.
Forms
Derived
Noun biology, natural sciences
- A variety of a species, distinguishable from other individuals of the species by morphology or behaviour.
- Briefly, the yellow morphic males can change their status from paired to satellite and from satellite to the paired one. However, they cannot cross into the status of the red morph. - 2010, T.J. Pandian, Sexuality in...
Coordinate Terms: subspecies life form
Origin
Back-formation from morphism. Attested since the 1950s. See also morphology.
Forms
Noun Entry 3
- A computer-generated gradual change from one image to another.
- But what is this metasubstance that blinks at us from the apex of the morph, and that in Terminator 2 is hyperbolized in the quicksilver substratum of the T-1000? - 2000, Vivian Carol Sobchack, Meta Morphing, page 123:
Origin
Clipping of metamorphose.
Forms
Derived
Noun slang, uncountable
- Morphine.
- They're bringing you some morph before long. […] The tube has its own needle, and the medic jabs it in like he has done it a million times, then marks Chickenfeed's forehead so the Rear will know he's already had...
Origin
Clipping of morphine.
Noun Entry 5
- A hermaphrodite, an intersex person.
- I am seeking to correspond with a TV [transvestite] or a natural morph. I want them to be passive (I'm totally non-violent) but open in feelings and ideas. I need no financial support, only moral support from a person...
Origin
Clipping of morphodite.
Forms
Related
Verb
- To change shape, from one form to another, through computer animation.
- To shapeshift.
- Meta leapt forward. In midair his lower half morphed, and suddenly he was one-half humanoid, one-half coiled spring. - 1993, Peter David, The Siege:
- "Would it reflect badly on women if I morphed my bust size up a bit for it? Sorta like wearing a padded bra?" - 2015 January 30, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive - EGS:NP (webcomic), Comic for Friday, Jan 30, 2015:
- To undergo dramatic change in a seamless and barely noticeable fashion.
- By the time politicians in several cities backed down on Tuesday and announced that they would cut or consider reducing fares, the demonstrations had already morphed into a more sweeping social protest, with marchers...
- “Highbrow and lowbrow, alternative and mainstream, work and play, CEO and hipster are all morphing together today,” [Richard] Florida enthuses. - 2014, Astra Taylor, quoting Richard Florida, chapter 2, in The People's...