What is "metamorphosis"

Metamorphosis \Met`a*mor"pho*sis\, n.; pl. Metamorphoses. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to be transformed; meta` beyond, over + morfh` form.]

1. Change of form, or structure; transformation.

2. (Biol.) A change in the form or function of a living organism, by a natural process of growth or development; as, the metamorphosis of the yolk into the embryo, of a tadpole into a frog, or of a bud into a blossom. Especially, that form of sexual reproduction in which an embryo undergoes a series of marked changes of external form, as the chrysalis stage, pupa stage, etc., in insects. In these intermediate stages sexual reproduction is usually impossible, but they ultimately pass into final and sexually developed forms, from the union of which organisms are produced which pass through the same cycle of changes. See Transformation.

3. (Physiol.) The change of material of one kind into another through the agency of the living organism; metabolism.

   Vegetable metamorphosis (Bot.), the doctrine that flowers are homologous with leaf buds, and that the floral organs are transformed leaves.

1530s, "change of form or shape," especially by witchcraft, from Latin metamorphosis, from Greek metamorphosis "a transforming, a transformation," from metamorphoun "to transform, to be transfigured," from meta- "change" (see meta-) + morphe "form" (see Morpheus). Biological sense is from 1660s. As the title of Ovid's work, late 14c., Metamorphoseos, from Latin Metamorphoses (plural).

n. 1 A transformation, such as that of magic or by sorcery 2 A noticeable change in character, appearance, function or condition. 3 (context biology English) A change in the form and often habits of an animal after the embryonic stage during normal development. (e.g. the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly or a tadpole into a frog.) 4 (context pathology English) A change in the structure of a specific body tissue. Usually degenerative.

1. n. the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some animals [syn: metabolism]

2. a striking change in appearance or character or circumstances; "the metamorphosis of the old house into something new and exciting" [syn: transfiguration]

3. a complete change of physical form or substance especially as by magic or witchcraft

4. [also: metamorphoses (pl)]

Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Some insects, fishes, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, cnidarians, echinoderms and tunicates undergo metamorphosis, which is often accompanied by a change of nutrition source or behavior. Animals can be divided into species that undergo complete metamorphosis (" holometaboly"), incomplete metamorphosis ("hemimetaboly"), or no metamorphosis ("ametaboly").

Scientific usage of the term is technically precise, and is not applied to general aspects of cell growth, including rapid growth spurts. References to "metamorphosis" in mammals are imprecise and only colloquial, but historically idealist ideas of transformation and monadology, as in Goethe's Metamorphosis of Plants, have influenced the development of ideas of evolution

"Metamorphosis" is a second season episode of the original science fiction television series, Star Trek, first broadcast on November 10, 1967, and repeated July 19, 1968. It is episode #38, production #31, written by Gene L. Coon and directed by Ralph Senensky.

In this episode, a shuttle crew from the USS Enterprise encounters a man out of history and his mysterious alien companion.

Metamorphosis is the third compilation album of The Rolling Stones music released by former manager Allen Klein's ABKCO Records (who usurped control of the band's Decca/ London material in 1970) after the band's departure from Decca and Klein. Released in 1975, Metamorphosis centres on outtakes and alternate versions of well-known songs recorded from 1964 to 1970.

Metamorphosis is the second studio album by American singer Hilary Duff. Marketed as her debut album, it was released on August 26, 2003 by Buena Vista and Hollywood Records as a follow up to her holiday album, Santa Claus Lane (2002). According to Duff, the album incorporates elements of pop and rock music, and it represents changes that are specific to her life and that everyone experiences. Duff worked with several producers on the album such as The Matrix. Others who collaborated on the album include Chico Bennett, Matthew Gerrard, John Shanks, and his frequent writing partner Kara DioGuardi.

Metamorphosis coincided with other high-profile projects in which she was involved in other media. The album received mixed reviews from music critics; some complimented it for being a modern-day bubblegum album, while others considered the album to be a promotional gimmick for the singer, lacking real substance. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 203,000 copies in its first week, becoming the highest opening week sales figure for a debut album by a female artist in 2003. In following week the album rose to number one on the chart. The album became the eighth best selling album of 2003 in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan, selling 2.6 million copies in a period of five months. By late 2005, the album had sold five million copies worldwide. For Hollywood Records, Metamorphosis was the label's first high seller in several years, and led to the company's further successful cultivation of new artists and brands using the Disney Channel.

Three singles were released from the album. The lead single, " So Yesterday", was released in July 2003 to mixed reception. The song failed to make much of an impact in the US, peaking in the top fifty. Internationally, it peaked within the top ten of music charts in Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. The album's second single, " Come Clean", released in early 2004, was more successful in the US, peaking at 35 and becoming her best-selling single in the country. The third and final single from the album, " Little Voice", was only released in Australia. Duff further promoted the album with the Metamorphosis Tour, which began in November 2003.

Metamorphosis is the name of a stage illusion invented by John Nevil Maskelyne, but most often associated with famous escape artist Harry Houdini and performed to some renown by Doug Henning, among others.

Doug Henning's World of Magic It is also known amongst magicians as the Substitution Trunk (often abbreviated to Sub Trunk).

In the illusion, an assistant (Houdini employed his wife Bess) is locked inside a large box or trunk, often after being restrained with handcuffs, ropes, bags, etc. The magician stands on the trunk and holds a curtain up to momentarily conceal his entire body. When the curtain is lowered, it is now revealed to be the assistant standing atop the box, the magician and assistant having changed places instantaneously. When the box is opened, it is shown to contain the magician, restrained as the assistant had been. In some acts, the magician is locked in the box first, then appears standing atop the box.

Variations include the Aquarian Illusion created in the 1970s by Alan Wakeling for Mark Wilson, who performed it in The Magic Circus series and a HBO special Mumbo Jumbo! It's Magic, and in closing his Las Vegas shows. In this version an acrylic tank filled with water is used and a beautiful swimsuit-clad woman assistant is locked inside underwater. Penn and Teller performed the illusion in an underwater theatre with the female assistant handcuffed and locked in a steel cage on the bottom. These variations add an element of peril. If something were to go wrong, the assistant (or magician) could possibly drown.

Pictured to the right is "Suspended Animation". Called the modern day metamorphosis, the trunk is suspended on a platform above the stage creating an aerial exchange. This evolution of the illusion was invented by Australian Illusionist, John Taylor.

Illusionist Criss Angel assisted by Klayton and his other assistants has also performed the Metamorphosis trick as part of his "Amystika" show. In Angel's version, he was handcuffed, and put into the box with assistant standing on top of it. After the flashes and torches lit the stage, they swapped places.

A method for Metamorphosis was exposed by the Masked Magician, Val Valentino, as part of Fox TV series Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed. He was assisted by Michelle Berube.

Metamorphosis is a rerelease of Zero Hour's eponymous debut album.

Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth.

Metamorphosis may also refer to:

• Metamorphism, a geological process
• Metamorphosis (illusion), a stage illusion invented by John Nevil Maskelyne
• Shapeshifting, a common theme in mythology, folklore and other fiction

Metamorphosis is the first EP by Norwegian experimental collective Ulver. Written and produced by Rygg and Ylwizaker, the EP was issued on September 27, 1999 via Jester Records. The EP showcased Ulver's new electronic sound, thus, acting as a musical trailer for Perdition City.

In the sleeve notes to Metamorphosis, the group declared:

Metamorphosis is the fourth studio album by Culture Beat. It was released by Columbia Records on May 01, 1998. The record includes three singles.

Metamorphosis is the sixth album by California rock band Papa Roach. It was released by DGC/ Interscope on March 24, 2009. The album was originally planned to be titled Days of War, Nights of Love, which is a lyrical quote from the song "No More Secrets" on the band's previous album, The Paramour Sessions. Subsequently, two songs on the album are titled "Days of War" and "Nights of Love".

Metamorphosis is the fourth studio album by Iron Butterfly, released on August 13, 1970. Butterfly stalwarts Ron Bushy (drums), Lee Dorman (bass) and Doug Ingle (vocals, keyboards) were accompanied on the album by Mike Pinera (guitar, vocals) and Larry Reinhardt (guitar). Though not as successful as its predecessor Ball (1969), it reached number 16 on the US charts.. Erik Brann, who left because of band disputes, was replaced by four session guitarists. Two of them, Mike Pinera (Blues Image frontman), and Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (called El Rhino on the sleeve), would become members of Iron Butterfly shortly after the album's release. Officially, the album is credited not to Iron Butterfly, but to "Iron Butterfly with Pinera & Rhino," in reference to the two aforementioned guitarists.

The album spawned the single "Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)," which reached number 66 on the Billboard chart, making it the band's biggest hit aside from " In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". The album is noted for having one of the earliest uses of the Talk box on a rock album.

Metamorphosis (, "Breaking Out Of The Shell" in Chinese; billed as Gangster Love in the Philippines) is a Singaporean Chinese action thriller drama which is being telecast on Singapore's free-to-air channel, MediaCorp TV Channel 8. It made its debut on 18 September 2007, screening at 9 PM every night on weekdays. The serial consists of 20 episodes. In the last few episodes, the serial recorded a viewership rate of over 1 million and was awarded the "Best Drama Series Award" in the Star Awards 2007. Yvonne Lim also received the "Best Actress Award" in the same event.

Metamorphosis is an album by jazz arranger Wade Marcus, released in 1976 on ABC Records/ Impulse! Records. Wade Marcus was a prolific and influential producer during the 1970s, producing album by acts such as The Blackbyrds, Gary Bartz, A Taste Of Honey, The Sylvers, Eddie Kendricks, The Dramatics, Donald Byrd and Stevie Wonder. The album hit #38 on Jazz Albums chart.

Metamorphosis is the tenth album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet. Released in 1990 it was the group's fourth album on the Elektra/ Nonesuch label and features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake and David Murray with Chief Bey, Melvin Gibbs and Mor Thiam. It was the first album recorded by the group after the departure of foundation member Julius Hemphill and their first to feature additional musicians.

Metamorphosis is a live album by jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe which was recorded at the Brook, New York City in 1977 and released in 1979 on the India Navigation label. The album was released on CD as a compilation with The Grip which was recorded at the same concert.

Metamorphosis is the sixth studio album by the Danish melodic death metal band Mercenary. This is the first album, except for their debut, First Breath, not to include the Sandager brothers, Mikkel on clean vocals and Morten on keyboards and Mike Park on drums since 11 Dreams. This is also the first album to feature Morten Løwe on drums. It was released on February 25, 2011, under the label Napalm Records. The US version was released on March 29 under the label Prosthetic Records, and will include one bonus track. The song "The Follower" was released on the band's YouTube channel on December 23, 2010, and the song "In a River of Madness" was released for streaming on the band's Facebook page on February 8, 2011. On February 14, the whole album was released for streaming on the Metal Hammer Germany website.

Metamorphosis is a series of collage-drawings by Joan Miró, made between 1935 and 1936. This is a series of works made as an interlude while Miró was painting the series Paintings on masonite.

Metamorphosis is a 2012 feature film adaptation of Franz Kafka's classic novella Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis). It is directed by Chris Swanton.

Brought to film by Attractive Features and Rockkiss Digital Media Entertainment Ltd, the film's cast leads with Maureen Lipman, Robert Pugh, and stars Laura Rees, Chloe Howman, Alistair Petrie, Janet Henfrey, Aiden McArdle, Paul Thornley and Liam McKenna

Metamorphosis is the fifth album by pianist Don Friedman which was recorded in 1966 and released on the Prestige label.

Metamorphosis is the fourth studio album by Filipina singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino, released in the Philippines on January 28, 2013 by Star Records.