Main Entry: mei·o·sis

Pronunciation: \mī-ˈō-səs\

Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin, from Greek meiōsis diminution, from meioun to diminish, from meiōn less; akin to Sanskrit mīyate he diminishes

Date: 1550

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

— mei·ot·ic \mī-ˈä-tik\ adjective

— mei·ot·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb