Meiosis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  meiosis
       n 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)
            [syn: {miosis}, {reduction 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" [syn: {litotes}]
       [also: {meioses} (pl)]