metamorphic
metamorphic — 形容詞
- metamorphicpositive
- more metamorphiccomparative
- most metamorphicsuperlative
1. Describes rock whose original form has been transformed by extreme heat or press
變質的
岩石因高溫高壓改變結構的
Describes rock whose original form has been transformed by extreme heat or pressure deep within the Earth's crust, producing a new internal structure and mineral composition.
Tariq collected samples of metamorphic rock — marble and slate — during his Alps trip.
Tariq 在阿爾卑斯山之旅中收集了變質岩樣本，包括大理石和板岩。
common types: marble, slate
The mountain range is made of metamorphic stone that formed when ancient seabeds were buried.
這條山脈由變質岩構成，是在古代海床被掩埋時形成的。
Deep underground, high pressure turns soft sediment into hard metamorphic rock over millions of years.
在地底深處，高壓經過數百萬年將軟沉積物轉變為堅硬的變質岩。
Ayana's geology textbook explained how heat can change limestone into metamorphic marble.
Ayana 的地質學課本說明了熱能如何將石灰岩轉變為變質大理石。
Marble and slate are common metamorphic rocks that people use for roofing and sculpture.
大理石和板岩是常見的變質岩，常用於屋頂和雕刻。
- transformed
less specific; can describe any kind of change, not just geological
- altered
more general and less technical than 'metamorphic'
- sedimentary
describes rock formed from compressed sediment, not transformed by heat/pressure
- igneous
describes rock formed from cooled magma or lava, not from pre-existing rock
文法句型
metamorphic + noun (rock / stone / marble / slate)
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a type of rock or mineral. The three main metamorphic rock types are marble (from limestone), slate (from shale), and schist (from mudstone). This sense belongs to geology — do not use it to describe biological change.
常見錯誤
2. Relating to the natural process in which a living thing develops through clearly
變態的
生物形態劇烈改變的
Relating to the natural process in which a living thing develops through clearly different stages, each with a completely different body shape and way of life.
The metamorphic change from a caterpillar to a butterfly takes about two weeks.
從毛蟲到蝴蝶的變態變化大約需要兩週。
metamorphic + change + life-cycle example
Michael studied the metamorphic development of tadpoles as they grew legs and lost their tails.
Michael 研究了蝌蚪在長出四肢並失去尾巴過程中的變態發育。
Eve's science fair project showed how metamorphic changes in frogs are controlled by hormones.
Eve 的科展作品說明了青蛙的變態變化如何受到荷爾蒙控制。
Some beetles have a metamorphic life cycle with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.
某些甲蟲經歷變態生命週期，包括卵、幼蟲、蛹和成蟲階段。
Tamar explained why the metamorphic process of the dragonfly differs from that of the butterfly.
Tamar 解釋了為什麼蜻蜓的變態過程與蝴蝶不同。
- transformative
broader meaning; can apply to any dramatic change, not just biological life cycles
- developmental
focuses on growth stages but does not imply a complete change of body form
文法句型
metamorphic + noun (change / process / stage / development / cycle)
用法筆記
Used mainly in biology to describe the life-cycle transitions of insects (butterflies, beetles, dragonflies) and amphibians (frogs, salamanders). Distinguish from sense 1 (geological) — sense 2 always refers to a living organism.