protean

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/prəʊˈtiːən/, /ˈprəʊtɪən/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈproʊtiən, proʊˈti-/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(prō′tē ən, prō tē′-)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
pro•te•an /ˈproʊtiən, proʊˈti-/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. easily able to take on or assume different forms or characters.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
pro•te•an  (prō′tē ən, prō tē′-),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. readily assuming different forms or characters;
    extremely variable.
  2. changeable in shape or form, as an amoeba.
  3. Show Business(of an actor or actress) versatile;
    able to play many kinds of roles.
  4. Mythology(cap.) of, pertaining to, or suggestive of Proteus.
  • Prote(us) + -an 1590–1600
pro′te•an•ism, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
protean / prəʊˈtiːən ˈprəʊtɪən/
  1. readily taking on various shapes or forms; variable
Etymology: 16th Century: from Proteus
'protean' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
kaleidoscopic

Forum discussions with the word(s) "protean" in the title:


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