tet·ra·ploid
ˈte-trə-ˌplȯid 
: having or being a chromosome number four times the monoploid number
a tetraploid cell
: a tetraploid individual
Examples of tetraploid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
Genomicists think that the ancestors of sturgeons were diploid until all their chromosomes doubled and the fish became tetraploid.
—Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2020
Leah Shaffer, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2016
Two polyploid gametes from different species, each with double the genetic information they were supposed to have, fused, and created a tetraploid: an creature with 4 sets of chromosomes.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2011
Tetraploids are bred to create larger flowers and denser foliage than normal, and are identified on plant tags when plants are purchased.
—Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 26 Apr. 2017
Slow-growing hostas include the miniatures, those with a lot of white on the leaves, and the tetraploids (that is, those with four basic sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two, one from each parent).
—Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 26 Apr. 2017
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Adjective
Consequently, the original diploid cell becomes triploid or, in other cases, tetraploid (four chromosomes), pentaploid (five chromosomes), and so forth.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
Genomicists think that the ancestors of sturgeons were diploid until all their chromosomes doubled and the fish became tetraploid.
—Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2020
Noun
Researcher Rodrigo Hamede Ross found that these devils had a DFTD strain with four chromosome copies (tetraploid) instead of the usual two (diploid).
—Leah Shaffer, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2016
Two polyploid gametes from different species, each with double the genetic information they were supposed to have, fused, and created a tetraploid: an creature with 4 sets of chromosomes.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2011
Tetraploids are bred to create larger flowers and denser foliage than normal, and are identified on plant tags when plants are purchased.
—Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 26 Apr. 2017
Slow-growing hostas include the miniatures, those with a lot of white on the leaves, and the tetraploids (that is, those with four basic sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two, one from each parent).
—Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, 26 Apr. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Tetraploid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetraploid. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tetraploid
1 of 2 adjective
tet·ra·ploid
ˈte-trə-ˌplȯid
: having or being a chromosome number four times the monoploid number
a tetraploid cell
tetraploid
2 of 2 noun
: a tetraploid individual
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