allomorph

noun

al·​lo·​morph ˈa-lə-ˌmȯrf 

: one of a set of forms that a morpheme may take in different contexts

the -s of cats, the -en of oxen, and the zero suffix of sheep are allomorphs of the English plural morpheme

allomorphic

ˌa-lə-ˈmȯr-fik 

adjective

allomorphism

ˈa-lə-ˌmȯr-ˌfi-zəm 

noun

Word History

Etymology

allo- + -morph (in morpheme), on the model of allophone : phoneme

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

allomorph

noun

al·​lo·​morph ˈal-ə-ˌmȯrf 

1

: any of two or more distinct crystalline forms of the same substance

2

: a pseudomorph that has undergone change or substitution of material

allomorphic

ˌal-ə-ˈmȯr-fik 

adjective

allomorphism

ˈal-ə-ˌmȯr-ˌfiz-əm 

noun