ectomorph

ectomorph
/ek"teuh mawrf'/, n.
a person of the ectomorphic type.
[1935-40; ECTO- + -MORPH]

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      a human physical type (somatotype) tending toward linearity, as determined by the physique classification system developed by the American psychologist W.H. Sheldon (Sheldon, William). Although classification by the Sheldon system is not absolute, a person is classed as an ectomorph if ectomorphy predominates over endomorphy and mesomorphy in his body build. The extreme ectomorph has a thin face with high forehead and receding chin; narrow chest and abdomen; a narrow heart; rather long, thin arms and legs; little body fat and little muscle; but a large skin surface and a large nervous system. If well fed he does not gain weight easily, and if he becomes fat he is still considered an ectomorph, only overweight. Compare endomorph; mesomorph.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ectomorph — 1940, coined by Sheldon from ECTO (Cf. ecto ) + Gk. morphe (see MORPHINE (Cf. morphine)). Related: Ectomorphic …   Etymology dictionary

  • ectomorph — [ek′tōmôrf΄, ek′təmôrf΄] n. an ectomorphic individual …   English World dictionary

  • ectomorph — noun Etymology: ectoderm + morph Date: 1940 an ectomorphic individual …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ectomorph — noun /ˈɛktəʊmɔːf,ˈɛktoʊmɔːrf,ˈɛktəmɔːrf/ a) Someone with a lean, only slightly muscular body b) Theoretical body type in which a person has a high metabolism. Such a person can easily maintain a low fat physique, but does not add muscle or body… …   Wiktionary

  • ectomorph — A constitutional body type or build (biotype or somatotype) in which tissues originating from the ectoderm predominate; from a morphological standpoint, the limbs predominate over the trunk. SYN: longitype. [ecto + G. morphe, form] * * *… …   Medical dictionary

  • ectomorph — n. person with a slender body build …   English contemporary dictionary

  • ectomorph — [ ɛktə(ʊ)mɔ:f] noun Physiology a person with a lean and delicate build of body. Compare with endomorph and mesomorph. Derivatives ectomorphic adjective ectomorphy noun Origin 1940s: ecto from ectodermal (being the layer of the embryo …   English new terms dictionary

  • ectomorph — ec·to·morph …   English syllables

  • ectomorph — ec•to•morph [[t]ˈɛk təˌmɔrf[/t]] n. dvl pan a person of the ectomorphic type …   From formal English to slang

  • ectomorph — /ˈɛktoʊmɔf/ (say ektohmawf), /ˈɛktə / (say ektuh ) noun a person of ectomorphic type …  

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