dimorphic Definition
- 1having two different forms or phases, especially occurring in two different color forms or sexual forms in a species
- 2having two different sizes or shapes
Using dimorphic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dimorphic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The butterfly has a dimorphic coloration, with males having bright blue wings and females having brown wings.
Example
The plant exhibits dimorphic leaves, with the upper leaves being larger and broader than the lower ones.
Example
The bird species is dimorphic, with males having brighter plumage than females.
dimorphic Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for dimorphic
- diphasic
- bimorphic
- diform
- disymmetric
Antonyms for dimorphic
Phrases with dimorphic
the condition where males and females of the same species exhibit different physical characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs
Example
Sexual dimorphism is common in many animal species, such as peacocks and lions.
the phenomenon where individuals of the same species exhibit different physical characteristics at different altitudes
Example
Altitudinal dimorphism is observed in many plant species, with individuals growing at higher altitudes being smaller and more compact than those growing at lower altitudes.
size dimorphism
the condition where males and females of the same species exhibit significant differences in size
Example
Size dimorphism is common in many animal species, such as spiders and birds of prey.
Origins of dimorphic
from Greek 'di-' meaning 'two' and 'morphē' meaning 'form'
Summary: dimorphic in Brief
The term 'dimorphic' [dahy-mawr-fik] refers to the condition of having two different forms or phases, such as color or size. This can occur in species, such as the butterfly's dimorphic coloration, or within individuals, such as the plant's dimorphic leaves. The term extends into phrases like 'sexual dimorphism,' which describes physical differences between males and females of the same species, and 'altitudinal dimorphism,' which describes differences in physical characteristics at different altitudes.
