I. ˈaləˌmȯrf, -ȯ(ə)f noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary all- + -morph
1. : any of two or more distinct crystalline forms of the same substance
calcium carbonate occurs in the allomorphs calcite and aragonite
2. : a pseudomorph that has undergone partial or complete change or substitution of material
limonite is frequently an allomorph after pyrite
• al·lo·mor·phic | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷fik, -ēk adjective
• al·lo·morph·ism ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ˌfizəm noun -s
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: allo- (II) + morph eme
: one of two or more forms that a morpheme has at different points in the language
the slep- slep of slept and the sleep slēp of sleep well, sleeping, and sleeper are allomorphs of the same morpheme
the -es ə̇z of dishes, the -s z of dreams, the -s s of traps, the -en ən of oxen, the vowel modification distinguishing teeth from tooth, and the zero suffix of sheep in those sheep are allomorphs of the same morpheme
— compare morph , morpheme 2
• al·lo·mor·phic | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷fik, -ēk adjective
• al·lo·morph·ism ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ˌfizəm noun -s