"division of a cell nucleus," 1905, from Greek meiosis "a lessening," from meioun "to lessen," from meion "less," from PIE root *mei- (2) "small" (see minus).
Earlier (1580s) it was a rhetorical term, a figure of speech "weak or negative expression used for a positive and forcible one, so that it may be made all the more emphatic," as when one says "not bad" meaning "very good" or "don't mind if I do" meaning "I really would like to," or this example from "Mark Twain":
"YOUNG AUTHOR." -- Yes Agassiz does recommend authors to eat fish, because the phosphorus in it makes brains. So far you are correct. But I cannot help you to a decision about the amount you need to eat,--at least, not with certainty. If the specimen composition you send is about your fair usual average, I should judge that perhaps a couple of whales would be all you would want for the present. Not the largest kind, but simply good, middling-sized whales.
Related: meiotic; meiotically.
双语例句
1. Meiosis, which occurs only in the formation of gametes, is a specialized form of cell division.
仅仅发生在配子形成中的减数分裂是一种特殊形式的有丝分裂.
来自辞典例句
2. The stage of mitosis and meiosis in which the chromosomes nuclear spindle.
在有丝分裂及减数分裂时染色体沿纺锤体排列.
来自互联网
3. Meiosis of microspore mother cells is synchronous or unsynchronous.
小孢子母细胞减数分裂同步或不同步.
来自互联网
4. Secondary oocyte immediately into the 2 nd meiosis, and stop at the metaphase.
次级卵母细胞随即进入第2次减数分裂, 停止在分裂中期.
来自互联网
5. The failure of any process in meiosis can result in chromosome mal - disjunction.
