Definition

A biological condition where an organism's body is divided into segments, often seen in the early stages of development in many animals.

Example

Metamerism is an important feature in the development of certain animals, allowing for a segmented body structure.

Conversation

I recently read about metamerism in biology class.

Oh really? What is it exactly?

It's the condition where an organism's body is divided into segments during development.

That sounds interesting! I didn't know that was a thing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Metamerism → It is formed from "meta-" (meaning change or beyond) and "meros" (meaning part). The word describes a phenomenon where two substances appear the same under certain conditions but differ in their composition, indicating a change in parts or components.

Memory Tip

Think of 'change' ('meta-') in 'parts' ('meros') to remember that metamerism refers to substances that look alike but are actually different.

Visually Confused Words