morphology
gb/mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/ us/mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
C1
abstract
1
word structure and formation
The part of grammar that studies word parts and word forms, such as plurals, verb endings, and prefixes.
Usage pattern:
the morphology of [a language]; [a language] morphology
Common mistake:
Do not confuse morphology with syntax: morphology concerns word forms; syntax concerns how words combine into sentences.
Synonyms
word formation (more learner-friendly and less technical; often focuses on creating words rather than all word-form changes)
|
morphological structure (emphasizes the internal structure of words)
Antonyms
syntax (contrasts word-internal structure with sentence structure)
|
phonology (contrasts word structure with the sound system of a language)
Collocations
English morphology
|verbal morphology
|nominal morphology
|complex morphology
|morphology rules
|morphology and syntax
|study morphology
|the morphology of a language
|rich morphology
|regular morphology
Themes
linguistics
|grammar
|language_learning
Examples
- The course introduces students to English morphology and syntax.
- Turkish morphology is rich, with many grammatical meanings expressed through suffixes.
- In language teaching, morphology can help learners understand unfamiliar words by recognizing roots and affixes.
Learner examples
- Plural -s is part of English morphology.
- We studied prefixes and suffixes in morphology class.
Noun
technical
C1
property
2
biological form and structure
The visible structure or shape of a living thing or one of its parts.
Usage pattern:
the morphology of [an organism/cell/organ]; [cell/species] morphology
Common mistake:
Morphology describes structure and shape, not how something works; physiology describes function.
Synonyms
structure (broader and more common; may include internal arrangement as well as shape)
|
form (simpler word emphasizing outward shape)
|
anatomy (refers especially to body structure, often at a larger scale)
Antonyms
physiology (contrasts biological structure with biological function)
|
function (contrasts what something looks like or is built like with what it does)
Collocations
cell morphology
|plant morphology
|bacterial morphology
|tissue morphology
|abnormal morphology
|external morphology
|organ morphology
|species morphology
|changes in morphology
|morphology and function
Themes
biology
|medicine
|anatomy
|science
Examples
- The microscope revealed changes in cell morphology after treatment.
- The two species are similar in behavior but different in morphology.
- Doctors examined the tumor's morphology to help determine the diagnosis.
Learner examples
- The cells had an unusual morphology.
- Plant morphology includes the study of roots, stems, and leaves.
Noun
formal
C2
property
3
shape and structural pattern
The overall shape and structure of something, especially in a scientific or academic context.
Usage pattern:
the morphology of [something]; [urban/river/surface] morphology
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, use shape, form, or structure instead; morphology is usually academic or technical.
Synonyms
structure (more common and general)
|
form (simpler and less technical)
|
configuration (emphasizes the arrangement of parts)
Antonyms
function (contrasts structural form with purpose or operation)
|
process (contrasts the resulting form with the actions that produce it)
Collocations
urban morphology
|river morphology
|coastal morphology
|surface morphology
|landscape morphology
|crystal morphology
|network morphology
|morphology of the city
|changes in morphology
|complex morphology
Themes
science
|geography
|urban_studies
|engineering
Examples
- Urban morphology looks at the layout of streets, blocks, and buildings.
- Floods can alter the morphology of a river channel.
- The surface morphology of the material affects how it reflects light.
Learner examples
- The city has a complex morphology.
- Scientists studied the morphology of the coast after the storm.
Grammar
Dictionary form
morphology
IPA
GB/mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/
US/mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/
Syllables & stress
mor - pho - logy (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pho)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: morphology
- Plural: morphologies, morphology
Expressions
cell morphology
1/sˈɛl mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
cell shape and structure
The way cells look and are structured, especially under a microscope.
Examples
- The lab report described abnormal cell morphology in the sample.
- Changes in cell morphology can indicate disease or stress.
- Researchers used imaging software to measure cell morphology.
derivational morphology
1/dˈɛɹɪvˈeɪʃənəl mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
grammar of word creation
The study of how new words are made, such as happy becoming unhappy or happiness.
Examples
- Derivational morphology explains how teach becomes teacher and readable becomes unreadable.
- The course covers both inflectional and derivational morphology.
- Understanding derivational morphology can help students expand their vocabulary.
inflectional morphology
1/ɪnflˈɛkʃənəl mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
grammar of word-form changes
The study of endings and other word changes that show grammar, such as walked, cats, or bigger.
Examples
- English inflectional morphology is relatively limited compared with that of Latin.
- The suffix -ed belongs to inflectional morphology because it marks past tense.
- Learners often notice inflectional morphology when studying verb endings.
morphology and syntax
1/mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi ˈænd sˈɪntˌæks/
fixed phrase
technical
word forms and sentence structure
The study of word forms and how words are put together in sentences.
Examples
- The exam includes questions on morphology and syntax.
- Children acquire aspects of morphology and syntax at different stages.
- The grammar chapter gives a brief overview of morphology and syntax.
urban morphology
1/ˈɚbən mɔɹfˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
city form and layout
The study of the shape and layout of a city or neighborhood.
Examples
- The book examines the urban morphology of medieval European towns.
- New transport routes have changed the urban morphology of the district.
- Urban morphology helps planners understand how a city has grown over time.