polymorphism

  1. Noun.  The ability to assume different forms or shapes.
  2. Noun.  (context, crystallography) The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism.
  3. Noun.  (context, biology) 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.
  4. Noun.  (context, computer science) The feature of object-oriented programming pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for an instance of a method to have several definitions.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.