1
: the presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect : understatement
2
: the cellular process that results in the number of chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell and a mitotic division compare mitosis
Examples of meiosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In meiosis, a cell also divides into two halves, but these halves each have 23 chromosomes.
—
Krissi Danielsson, Parents, 30 July 2024
That division, called meiosis, results in the egg, which can eventually be fertilized by a sperm, and three extra cells called polar bodies.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2024
Surprisingly, the granulosa cells decide when meiosis can be completed.
—John Travis, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Only immediately before ovulation do the granulosa cells release their restraints and let meiosis run its full course.
—John Travis, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
The last major step in the development of an oocyte in its follicle is to complete a genetic shuffle known as meiosis.
—John Travis, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In mice exposed to BPA and its replacements, sperm had fewer numbers of the proteins that allow chromosomes to complete meiosis, the cell division process that gives rise to genetically distinct eggs and sperm.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2018
The lab is also trying to figure out how to get eggs to enter a special form of cell division called meiosis that prepares them for being fertilized.
—Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
The process of meiosis, the delicate dance of DNA twisting and untwisting with its supporting cast of proteins and other molecules, neatly separates each pair of chromosomes and allocates them efficiently to the nuclei of the primordial germ cells.
—Mark Cohen, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2014
Krissi Danielsson, Parents, 30 July 2024
That division, called meiosis, results in the egg, which can eventually be fertilized by a sperm, and three extra cells called polar bodies.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2024
Surprisingly, the granulosa cells decide when meiosis can be completed.
—John Travis, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Only immediately before ovulation do the granulosa cells release their restraints and let meiosis run its full course.
—John Travis, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
The last major step in the development of an oocyte in its follicle is to complete a genetic shuffle known as meiosis.
—John Travis, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
In mice exposed to BPA and its replacements, sperm had fewer numbers of the proteins that allow chromosomes to complete meiosis, the cell division process that gives rise to genetically distinct eggs and sperm.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2018
The lab is also trying to figure out how to get eggs to enter a special form of cell division called meiosis that prepares them for being fertilized.
—Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
The process of meiosis, the delicate dance of DNA twisting and untwisting with its supporting cast of proteins and other molecules, neatly separates each pair of chromosomes and allocates them efficiently to the nuclei of the primordial germ cells.
—Mark Cohen, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2014
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meiosis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Meiosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meiosis. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
meiosis
noun
mei·o·sis
mī-ˈō-səs 
plural meioses
-ˈō-ˌsēz
: the process by which the number of chromosomes in a cell that produces sex cells is reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell followed by a mitotic division compare mitosis sense 1
Medical Definition
meiosis
noun
mei·o·sis
mī-ˈō-səs
plural meioses
-ˌsēz
: the cellular process that results in the number of chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being reduced to one half and that involves a reduction division in which one of each pair of homologous chromosomes passes to each daughter cell and a mitotic division compare mitosis sense 1
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