polymorphism

Meaning

Noun

• The ability to assume different forms or shapes.
• 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 pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for an instance of a method to have several definitions.
• The property of certain typed formal systems of allowing for the use of type variables and binders/quantifiers over those type variables; likewise, the property of certain expressions (within such typed formal systems) of making use of at least one such typed variable.
• The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism.
• The regular existence of two or more different genotypes within a given species or population; also, variability of amino acid sequences within a gene's protein.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• ad-hoc polymorphism
• dynamic polymorphism
• inclusion polymorphism
• parametric polymorphism
• static polymorphism
• subtype polymorphism

Origin

• From poly- + -morphism.