Main Entry: mei·o·sis

Pronunciation: \mī-ˈō-səs\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural mei·o·ses \-ˌsēz\

: 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 1

[meiosis illustration]

—mei·ot·ic \mī-ˈät-ik\ adjective

—mei·ot·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb