spireme

[ spahy-reem ]

noun

, Cell Biology.

1. the threadlike chromatin of a cell nucleus, present during early meiosis or mitosis.

spireme

/ ˈspaɪriːm /

noun

1. cytology the tangled mass of chromatin threads into which the nucleus of a cell is resolved at the start of mitosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of spireme¹

1885–90; < Greek speírēma coil, equivalent to speirē-, variant stem of speirâsthai to be coiled around + -ma noun suffix of result

Word History and Origins

Origin of spireme¹

C19: from Greek speirēma a coil, from speira a coil, spire ²

Example Sentences

In this process the chromatin becomes a convoluted thread, called the Skein or Spireme.

From Project Gutenberg

In iron-hæmatoxylin preparations this pair is often obscured by parts of the spireme which are tangled around it.

From Project Gutenberg

As in most of the other species of Coleoptera, the unequal pair is not distinguishable until the spireme stage.

From Project Gutenberg

It is closely applied to the nuclear membrane and is connected with an end of the spireme (figs. 51-54).

From Project Gutenberg

At first it is quite small, and it gradually increases in size during the spireme stage.

From Project Gutenberg