morphology
1 synonym for morphology, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The study of the form and structure of living things, or the form and structure themselves.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
geomorphology
How to use morphology
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cell morphology
urban morphology
derivational morphology
morphology and syntax
Academic and technical; the field is understood from context.
Etymology
From Greek morphe 'form' and -logia 'study of'.
Full origin of morphology →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between morphology and syntax?
Morphology deals with the internal structure of words, such as how 'unhappiness' is built from un-, happy and -ness. Syntax deals with how words are arranged into phrases and sentences. Morphology works below the word; syntax works above it.
What is the difference between morphology and anatomy?
Anatomy describes the internal parts of an organism and how they fit together, often through dissection. Morphology is broader, covering external form and shape as well, and it is often used comparatively across species.
What is a morpheme?
A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language. 'Cats' has two: 'cat' and the plural '-s'.
