metamorphosis

Meaning

Noun

• A transformation, such as one performed by magic.
• A noticeable change in character, appearance, function or condition.
• A change in the form and often habits of an animal after the embryonic stage during normal development. (e.g. the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly or a tadpole into a frog.)
• A change in the structure of a specific body tissue. Usually degenerative.

Origin

• First attested in 1533, from Latin metamorphōsis, from Ancient Greek μεταμόρφωσις, from μετά + μορφή. Analyzable as meta- + -morph