Mĕt'a-plăṣm, n.

n. [Fr. métaplasme, It. & Sp. metaplasmo, Lat. metaplasmus, Gr. μεταπλασμός, from μεταπλάσσειν, to transform, change, from μετά, beyond, over, and πλάσσειν, to form, mold.] (Gram.) A change made in a word by the augmentation, diminution, or immutation, of a syllable or letter.