metamorphic

/ˌˈmɛdəˌmɔrfɪk/

Metamorphic things have experienced some kind of transformation or change. A metamorphic rock, for example, started out as a different kind of rock and was transformed with heat or pressure.

Metamorphosis is a dramatic change, a transformation from one state to a completely different one. The adjective metamorphic describes something related to this kind of change. Every child should get the chance to watch the metamorphic process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. You might have a metamorphic summer, one in which you get your braces off and grow seven inches taller. In geology, metamorphic describes a specific process that some rocks undergo when heat and pressure changes them. The Greek metamorphoun, "to transform," is from meta, "change," and morphe, "form."

Definitions of metamorphic

1. adjective

   of or relating to metamorphosis (especially of rocks)
   “metamorphic stage”

   “marble is a metamorphic rock that takes a high polish”

   synonyms: metamorphous
2. adjective

   characterized by metamorphosis or change in physical form or substance
   synonyms:

   epimorphic

   characterized by incomplete metamorphosis; having the same number of body segments in successive stages

   hemimetabolic, hemimetabolous, hemimetamorphic, hemimetamorphous

   (of an insect with aquatic young) undergoing incomplete metamorphosis in which the young does not resemble the adult

   heterometabolic, heterometabolous

   (of an insect) undergoing incomplete metamorphosis in which the nymph is essentially like the adult and there is no pupal stage

   holometabolic, holometabolous

   (of an insect) undergoing complete metamorphosis

   metamorphous

   produced by metamorphosis

   changed

   changed in constitution or structure or composition by metamorphism

   antonyms:

   nonmetamorphic

   not metamorphic

   ametabolic

   undergoing no (or only slight) metamorphosis