n.
Pronunciation: ˌ pä-l ē - ' mo ̇ r- ˌ fi-z ə m
Function: noun
Date: 1839
: the quality or state of existing in or assuming different forms: as a (1) : existence of a species in several forms independent of the variations of sex (2) : existence of a gene in several allelic forms also : a variation in a specific DNA sequence (3) : existence of a molecule (as an enzyme) in several forms in a single species b : the property of crystallizing in two or more forms with distinct structure
– poly · mor · phic \ -fik \ adjective
– poly · mor · phi · cal · ly \ -fi-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb