Inheritance vs. Polymorphism — What's the Difference?

Inheritance is the practice of passing on private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time.

(Biology) The occurrence of more than one form, as several alleles of a particular gene or winged and wingless forms of the same species.

The action of inheriting something

(Chemistry) Crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. Also called pleomorphism.

Something inherited or to be inherited

The ability to assume different forms or shapes.

Something regarded as a heritage

(biology) The coexistence, in the same locality, of two or more distinct forms independent of sex, not connected by intermediate gradations, but produced from common parents.

The process of genetic transmission of characteristics from parent or ancestor to offspring.

(object-oriented programming) The feature pertaining to the dynamic treatment of data elements based on their type, allowing for an instance of a method to have several definitions. en

A characteristic so inherited.

The property of certain typed formal systems of allowing for the use of type variables and binders/quantifiers over those type variables; likewise, the property of certain expressions (within such typed formal systems) of making use of at least one such typed variable.

The sum of genetically transmitted characteristics.

(crystallography) The ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure; pleomorphism.

The passing of title to an estate upon death.

(genetics) The regular existence of two or more different genotypes within a given species or population; also, variability of amino acid sequences within a gene's protein.

(countable) That which a person is entitled to inherit, by law or testament.

Same as Pleomorphism.

The act or mechanism of inheriting; the state of having inherited

The capability of assuming different forms; the capability of widely varying in form.

The biological attributes passed hereditarily from ancestors to their offspring.

(chemistry) the existence of different kinds of crystal of the same chemical compound

The mechanism whereby parts of a superclass are available to instances of its subclass.

(biology) the existence of two or more forms of individuals within the same animal species (independent of sex differences)

The act or state of inheriting; as, the inheritance of an estate; the inheritance of mental or physical qualities.

That which is or may be inherited; that which is derived by an heir from an ancestor or other person; a heritage; a possession which passes by descent.

A permanent or valuable possession or blessing, esp. one received by gift or without purchase; a benefaction.

Possession; ownership; acquisition.

Transmission and reception by animal or plant generation.

A perpetual or continuing right which a man and his heirs have to an estate; an estate which a man has by descent as heir to another, or which he may transmit to another as his heir; an estate derived from an ancestor to an heir in course of law.

Hereditary succession to a title or an office or property

That which is inherited; a title or property or estate that passes by law to the heir on the death of the owner

(genetics) attributes acquired via biological heredity from the parents

Any attribute or immaterial possession that is inherited from ancestors;