mesomorphic

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌmɛzəˈmɔɹfɪk/, /ˌmɛsəˈmɔɹfɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)fɪk

Etymology 1

From mesomorph +‎ -ic.

Adjective

mesomorphic (comparative more mesomorphic, superlative most mesomorphic)

1. Of or pertaining to a mesomorph.
   • 1993, Henry B. Biller, Fathers and Families: Paternal Factors in Child Development, page 155:

     For instance, compared to the typical ectomorphic or endomorphic child, the mesomorphic boy or girl may have more energy and a greater motivation for vigorous play with peers.

   • 2005, Bruce Abernethy, The Biophysical Foundations of Human Movement, page 37:

     An average man is more mesomorphic than the phantom whereas the average woman is more endomorphic than the phantom (see figure 3.2).

   • 2009, Timothy R. Ackland, Bruce Elliott, John Bloomfield, Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics in Sport, page 62:

     Players in the best teams were less endomorphic and more mesomorphic than those in the worst teams, but forwards and backs in the best teams did not differ in somatotype.

   • 2025 February 4, Laura Schober, “What Does It Mean To Have an Endomorph Body Type?”, in Health‎^[1]:

     Studies have found that elite athletes can be primarily mesomorphic with ectomorphic qualities or primarily mesomorphic with endomorphic qualities.

Etymology 2

From meso- +‎ -morphic.

Adjective

mesomorphic (not comparable)

1. (chemistry, physics) Of or pertaining to phases of matter intermediate between solid and liquid; of or pertaining to liquid crystals.
   • 1958, Chemical Society (Great Britain), G. W. Gray, Steric Effects in Conjugated Systems, page 161,

     Changes in the chemical constitution of a mesomorphic compound may therefore radically alter the mesomorphic properties and thermal stabilities.

   • 1993, Nikolaĭ Alʹfredovich Platė (editor, original Russian edition), S. L. Schnur (translator), Liquid-Crystal Polymers, page 132,

     This x-ray is typical of mesomorphic structures which occupy an intermediate position between crystalline and amorphous with respect to the degree of order.

   • 2007, Gert R. Strobl, The Physics of Polymers: Concepts for Understanding Their Structures and Behavior, page 200:

     The thermodynamic conditions under which such a mesomorphic phase can interfere and affect the crystallization process are described in Fig. 5.40.

Anagrams

• homospermic