heteromorphic

adjective

het·​ero·​mor·​phic ˌhe-tə-rə-ˈmȯr-fik 

1

: deviating from the usual form

2

: exhibiting diversity of form or forms

heteromorphic pairs of chromosomes

heteromorphism

ˌhe-tə-rə-ˈmȯr-ˌfi-zəm 

noun

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

heteromorphic

adjective

het·​ero·​mor·​phic -ˈmȯr-fik 

variants also heteromorphous

-fəs 

1

: deviating from the usual form

2

: unlike in form or size

—used specifically of synaptic chromosomes

the X and Y chromosomes constitute a heteromorphic pair

heteromorphic bivalents

compare homomorphic sense 2

heteromorphism

-ˌfiz-əm 

noun