Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An image that appears distorted unless it is viewed from a special angle or with a special instrument.
  • noun The production of such an image.
  • noun Evolutionary increase in complexity of form and function.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In perspec., a method of drawing which gives a distorted image of the object represented when it is viewed directly or nearly so, but a natural image when it is viewed from a certain point, is reflected by a curved mirror, or is seen through a polyhedron.
  • noun In botany, an anomalous or monstrous development of any part of a plant, owing to some unusual condition affecting growth, so that it presents an appearance altogether unlike the typical form, as when the calyx of a rose assumes the form of a leaf.
  • noun In zoology and botany, the gradual change of form, generally ascending, traced in a group of animals or plants the members of which succeed each other in point of time.
  • noun In senses 2 and 3 also called anamorphism.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Persp.) A distorted or monstrous projection or representation of an image on a plane or curved surface, which, when viewed from a certain point, or as reflected from a curved mirror or through a polyhedron, appears regular and in proportion; a deformation of an image.
  • noun (Biol.) Same as Anamorphism, 2.
  • noun (Bot.) A morbid or monstrous development, or change of form, or degeneration.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A distorted image of an object that may be viewed correctly from a specific angle or with a specific mirror
  • noun biology a form of limited metamorphosis in some arthropods
  • noun botany an abnormal form of some lichens or fungi that gives the appearance of a different species

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the evolution of one type of organism from another by a long series of gradual changes
  • noun a distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin anamorphōsis, from Late Greek anamorphoun, to transform : Greek ana-, ana- + Greek morphē, shape.]

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Examples

  • “Anamorph” is about a detective investigating a strange series of murders in which the killer uses a little known technique called anamorphosis to create an image that can only be seen from a certain angle as created by the killer/artist.

    Dart Adams presents A Tale Of Ten Trailers 5 AKA The 4:20 Edition Dart Adams 2008

  • This process is called anamorphosis, which is simply a mathematical word meaning controlled transformation of shape.

    Movies and TV: Murder or Merger? 1969

  • This process is called anamorphosis, which is simply a mathematical word meaning controlled transformation of shape.

    Movies and TV: Murder or Merger? 1953

  • Moreover, he confined this evolution in the strictest possible way to each group; he did not believe that what was called anamorphosis -- the transition of a lower type into a higher type -- ever occurred.

    Thomas Henry Huxley; A Sketch Of His Life And Work 1904

  • Moreover, he confined this evolution in the strictest possible way to each group; he did not believe that what was called anamorphosis ” the transition of a lower type into a higher type ” ever occurred.

    Thomas Henry Huxley A Sketch Of His Life And Work Mitchell, P Chalmers 1900

  • Although his drawing surface is simply flat pavement, he uses a technique called anamorphosis to create the illusion of three dimensions when viewed from the correct angle.

    The Illusionists 2008

  • Anamorph is based on the concept of anamorphosis, a painting technique that manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas.

    KARL HUNGUS IS IN A MOVIE 2008

  • Anamorph is based on the concept of anamorphosis, a painting technique that manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas.

    KARL HUNGUS IS IN A MOVIE 2008

  • Starring Willem Dafoe and Scott Speedman, Anamorph is a psychological thriller based on the concept of anamorphosis, a painting technique that manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas.

    Worth Watching - April 8: Willem Dafoe's Anamorph Trailer « FirstShowing.net 2008

  • Although his drawing surface is simply flat pavement, he uses a technique called anamorphosis to create the illusion of three dimensions when viewed from the correct angle.

    January 2008 2008

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