What? You don't know what MEtaMorph is? Well, like most words
in the English language, it can be broken into parts in order
to discover its meaning. Let's break it down together.
We can break MEtaMorph into two parts: the prefix “meta” and the
root word “morph.” Can you think of any other words that have
either of these two parts in them? Here are a few examples:
- Metamorphic Rock
- Metabolism
- Metaphor
- Polymorphism
- Metaphysical
- Morpheus
Now go to the AskOxford
web site and find the meaning of the words on the list above.
Write the definition of each one in your Career
Journal.
Using two words we know from this list, let's first figure out
what “meta” means:
- Metamorphosis means a change in form, shape or structure
of a substance. An example of this is a tadpole that changes
into a frog or a caterpillar that changes into a butterfly.
- Metabolism means a life-sustaining chemical activity in the
body in which food is changed into energy and other material
necessary for life.
If we can figure out what these two definitions have in common,
we will understand what “meta” means. Can you guess the word that
they both have in common? Roll
over here to see.
Go to Activity 2.
© 2004 Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium
Material may only be reproduced with permission from The Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium
