trimorphism
nounEtymology From tri- + -morphism.
1
Chemistry, Crystallography, Natural sciences, Physical sciences The property of crystallizing in three distinct forms.
- Titanium dioxide exhibits trimorphism: its three forms are rutile, octahedrite, and brookite.
2
Biology, Natural sciences The coexistence among individuals of the same species of three distinct forms, not generally connected by intermediate gradations.
- Derived terms
- isotrimorphism
- Related terms
- dimorphism, polymorphism, trimorphic