meiosis

Noun
Synonyms: miosisreduction divisionlitotes

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)Synonyms: miosisreduction division
  2. understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)“saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes”Synonyms: litotes
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Meiosis \Mei*o"sis\ (m[-i]*[=o]"s[i^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. mei`wsis, fr. meioy^n to make smaller, from mei`wn. See Meionite.]

1.(Rhet.) Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is; understatement; see also litotes. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2.(Cell Biology) The cellular process by which a diploid progenitor cell forms haploid gametes, including a division of one diploid cell into two cells, each with one of the homologous sets of chromosomes. [PJC]

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