Polymorphism
WordNet
noun
(1) (biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences)
(2) (chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From poly + morph (form) + -ism.
Noun
- The ability to assume different forms or shapes.
- The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism.
- The coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.
- The feature of object-oriented programming pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for an instance of a method to have several definitions.