metamorphosis

Everyday

1. Metamorphosis is a big change in body shape that some animals go through as they grow, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly or a tadpole becoming a frog. tree →
2. A metamorphosis is any complete change in how someone or something looks or is. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on life cycles: a butterfly goes through complete metamorphosis (egg, larva/caterpillar, pupa/chrysalis, adult); a frog goes from frogspawn to tadpole to froglet to frog. Grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). In stories, a metamorphosis is a magical or amazing transformation. Phrases: «undergo metamorphosis», «complete metamorphosis», «incomplete metamorphosis».

Examples

• A caterpillar turns into a butterfly by metamorphosis. tree →
• Tadpoles go through metamorphosis to become frogs. tree →
• Inside the chrysalis, metamorphosis takes place. tree →
• Beetles also go through complete metamorphosis. tree →
• We watched the metamorphosis of our class caterpillars. tree →
• Grasshoppers have incomplete metamorphosis. tree →
• The old shed went through a metamorphosis into a playroom. tree →
• Metamorphosis comes from Greek words meaning «change of shape». tree →
• In two years the building itself will put on a proper appearance, there will be a complete metamorphosis in beauty and improvement. tree →

Note

Plural: metamorphoses (-sis → -ses). Verb: metamorphose. Stress: me-ta-MOR-pho-sis. Humans do not go through metamorphosis — we grow but keep the same body shape.