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meiosis

mei·o·sis [ mī ṓssiss ]

noun

Definition:

1. process of cell division: in organisms that reproduce sexually, a process of cell division during which the nucleus divides into four nuclei, each of which contains half the usual number of chromosomes.
See also mitosis

2. literature
Same as litotes

[Mid-16th century. < modern Latin< Greek meiōn "less"]

mei·o·tic [ mī óttik ] adjective

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