morpho

[ mawr-foh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural mor·phos.

any of various large, tropical American butterflies of the genus Morpho, having brilliant blue, iridescent wings with an underside of brown or gray and eyelike spots.

morpho-

a combining form meaning “form, structure,” used in the formation of compound words:
morphology.

morpho-

combining_form

indicating form or structure
morphology
morpheme
morphophonemics

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Word History and Origins

Origin of morpho¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from New Latin Morphō, genus name, from Greek Morphṓ “the Shapely, the Beautiful” (an epithet of Aphrodite in Sparta), akin to morphḗ “form, shape, figure, beauty”

Origin of morpho²

< Greek, combining form of morphḗ

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Word History and Origins

Origin of morpho¹

from Greek morphē form, shape

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Example Sentences

Helicons came, and once a morpho, the latter a great rarity away from the interior of the woods.

From Project Gutenberg

It was in the woods at the Caracoles that I first saw the great morpho butterfly at home.

From Project Gutenberg

In this upper story was an image of Aphrodite Morpho fettered—a silly thing he thought it to fetter a cedar-wood doll.

From Project Gutenberg

The largest specimens of Morpho Cisseis measure seven inches and a half in expanse.

From Project Gutenberg

In the broad alleys of the forest, several species of Morpho were common.

From Project Gutenberg

-morphism morphogenesis

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