Morphological Meaning: Definition and Examples
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morphological
[mɔːrˈfɒlədʒɪkəl ]
Definitions
language study
Morphological pertains to the study of the form and structure of words in a language. It focuses on the ways in which words are formed and their relationship to other words in the same language. Morphological analysis is crucial in understanding the rules that govern word formation.
Synonyms
compositional, formative, structural.
Examples of usage
- Morphological changes can alter the meaning of a word.
- The morphological structure of the language is complex.
- Linguists conduct morphological analysis to study word formation.
biological sciences
In biological terms, morphological refers to the form and structure of organisms or their parts. It is essential in fields like zoology and botany for the classification and understanding of species.
Synonyms
anatomical, physical, structural.
Examples of usage
- The morphological features of the species were thoroughly documented.
- Studying morphological characteristics helps in species identification.
- Morphological adaptations can enhance survival.
Interesting Facts
Linguistics
- Morphological analysis investigates how different parts of a word (like prefixes, roots, and suffixes) combine to form meaning.
- Languages can be categorized based on their morphological properties: isolating (fewer morphemes), agglutinative (many morphemes), or fusional (mixed characteristics).
Psychology
- Studies show that morphological awareness helps improve reading and writing skills, as it supports understanding how words are built.
- Children who develop strong morphological skills tend to grasp the meanings of new words more easily by recognizing familiar parts.
Pop Culture
- In the world of animation and games, morphing often refers to characters changing shape, showcasing visual forms based on their underlying structure.
- Movies like 'Transformers' use the concept of morphological change literally, where robots shift from one form to another.
Biology
- Morphological traits in biology refer to observable characteristics like size, shape, and structure, playing key roles in species identification.
- Evolutionary biology uses morphological characteristics to trace the lineage of species and understand their adaptations over time.
Origin of 'morphological'
Main points about word origin
- The term comes from the Greek word 'morphē', meaning 'shape' or 'form', combined with the suffix '-logical', indicating a relationship to study.
- First used in the early 19th century, the concept has roots in both linguistics and biology, with the study of forms applied across disciplines.
The term 'morphological' comes from the Greek word 'morphē', meaning 'form' or 'shape', combined with the suffix '-logical', pertaining to a field of study. It was first used in the 19th century within the context of biology to describe the form and structure of organisms. The linguistic application of the term emerged later, when scholars began to study the form and structure of words. Today, morphological studies are pivotal in both linguistics and various branches of science, reflecting the relevance of form in understanding both language and biological diversity.