Associations to the word «Meiosis»

MEIOSIS, noun. (countable) (rhetoric) A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is; understatement.

MEIOSIS, noun. (uncountable) (cytology) Cell division of a diploid cell into four haploid cells, which develop to produce gametes.

MEIOSIS, noun. (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants).

MEIOSIS, noun. Understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary); "saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes".