meiosis
UK[maɪˈəʊsɪs]US[maɪˈoʊsɪs]
n
A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes.
n
(Rhetoric) A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is; understatement.
Morpheme Breakdown
meio
sis
meio
lessen
sis
process or condition
Etymology
The term 'meiosis' is a modern scientific borrowing directly from the ancient Greek word meiōsis, which meant 'a lessening' or 'diminution'. This Greek noun was itself derived from the verb meioō ('to make smaller', 'to diminish'), which is rooted in the comparative form meiōn ('less'). In the 19th century, biologists adopted this classical term for the cell division process because it results in a reduction of the chromosome number by half, a literal biological 'lessening'. The rhetorical meaning of understatement, which makes something seem less significant, follows the same core logic of diminution from its Greek origins.
Analysis
Structure: meio (lessen) + sis (process or condition)
- 'meio': From Greek meiōn (less), a comparative form of meiōn meaning 'lesser' or 'to diminish'. It functions as the core root conveying the concept of reduction.
- 'sis': A Latinized suffix from Greek -sis, indicating a process, action, or condition. It functions as a nominalizing suffix, turning the action into a noun.
Examples
During meiosis, a single diploid cell divides to produce four haploid gametes.
The genetic variation introduced by crossing over is a crucial feature of meiosis.
His description of winning the championship as "a bit of good luck" was a classic meiosis.