meiosis

The definition of meiosis is the process of cellular division.

(noun)

An example of meiosis is when a chromosome reduces from a double cell to a single cell.

See meiosis in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the process of two consecutive nuclear divisions in the formation of germ cells in animals and of spores in most plants, by which the number of chromosomes ordinarily is reduced from the diploid, or double, number found in somatic cells to the haploid, or halved, number found in gametes and in spores
litotes

Origin: ModL < Gr meiōsis < meioun, to make smaller < meiōn, less: see minor

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See meiosis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. mei·o·ses (-sēzˌ)

Genetics The process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes in reproductive cells from diploid to haploid, leading to the production of gametes in animals and spores in plants.
Rhetorical understatement.

Origin:

Origin: Greek meiōsis, diminution

Origin: , from meioun, to diminish

Origin: , from meiōn, less; see mei-² in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: