Main Entry: nu·cle·o·lus

Pronunciation: \nü-ˈklē-ə-ləs, nyü-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural nu·cle·o·li \-ˌlī\

Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, diminutive of nucleus

Date: 1845

: a spherical body of the nucleus of most eukaryotes that becomes enlarged during protein synthesis, is associated with a nucleolus organizer, and contains the DNA templates for ribosomal RNA — see cell illustration

— nu·cle·o·lar \-lər\ adjective