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mitosis

Mitosis is the process of dividing a cell and its nucleus into two cells which each have their own nucleus.

(noun)

An example of mitosis is the way the skin cells covering a child's body all multiply while they are growing.

See mitosis in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. mitoses

Biol. the indirect and more common method of nuclear division of cells, consisting typically of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase: the nuclear chromatin first appears as long threads which shorten and thicken to form the typical number of chromosomes, each of which splits lengthwise to double in number with half of each set then moving toward opposite poles of the cell to become reorganized into two new nuclei with the normal number of chromosomes

Origin: ModL < Gr mitos, thread + -osis

Related Forms:

mitotic adjective
mitotically adverb

See mitosis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. mi·to·ses (-sēz)
Biology

The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides, typically consisting of four stages, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, and normally resulting in two new nuclei, each of which contains a complete copy of the parental chromosomes. Also called karyokinesis.
The entire process of cell division including division of the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

Origin:

Origin: Greek mitos, warp thread

Origin: + -osis

Related Forms: