centromere

noun

cen·​tro·​mere ˈsen-trə-ˌmir How to pronounce centromere (audio)
: the point or region on a chromosome to which the spindle (see spindle entry 1 sense 2) attaches during mitosis and meiosis
centromeric adjective

Examples of centromere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adam Phillippy and his team at NHGRI deserve special credit for their focused work to resolve the sequences of the ribosomal DNA arrays on each of the five acrocentric chromosomes, where the centromere is much closer to one end than to the center. Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021 In their first look, Altemose and his colleagues were struck by how different centromere regions can be from one person to another. Carl Zimmer New York Times, Star Tribune, 24 July 2021 In their first look, Dr. Altemose and his colleagues were struck by how different centromere regions can be from one person to another. New York Times, 23 July 2021 But on five of the 23 total human chromosomes, the centromere is not precisely in the middle, instead favoring one end over the other, per the Atlantic. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2021 On five human chromosomes, the centromere is not in the middle but very close to one end, dividing the chromosome into one long and one very short arm. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 11 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of centromere was in 1936

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Cite this Entry

“Centromere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centromere. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

centromere

noun
cen·​tro·​mere ˈsen-trə-ˌmi(ə)r How to pronounce centromere (audio)
: the point on a chromosome to which the spindle attaches during cell division

Medical Definition

centromere

noun
cen·​tro·​mere ˈsen-trə-ˌmi(ə)r How to pronounce centromere (audio)
: the point or region on a chromosome to which the spindle attaches during mitosis and meiosis

called also kinetochore

centromeric adjective

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