amitosis

[ am-i-toh-sis, ey-mahy- ]

/ ˌæm ɪˈtoʊ sɪs, ˌeɪ maɪ- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR amitosis ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Biology.

the direct method of cell division, characterized by simple cleavage of the nucleus without the formation of chromosomes.

RELATED WORDS

meiosis, mitosis

Nearby words

amis, amish, amiss, amitabha, amitate, amitosis, amitriptyline, amittai, amity, amitābha, amm

Origin of amitosis

First recorded in 1890–95; a-⁶ + mitosis

Related forms

am·i·tot·ic

[am-i-tot-ik, ey-mahy-] /ˌæm ɪˈtɒt ɪk, ˌeɪ maɪ-/, adjectiveam·i·tot·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for amitosis

amitosis

/ (ˌæmɪˈtəʊsɪs) /

noun

an unusual form of cell division in which the nucleus and cytoplasm divide by constriction without the formation of chromosomes; direct cell division

Derived Forms

amitotic (ˌæmɪˈtɒtɪk), adjectiveamitotically, adverb

Word Origin for amitosis

C19: a- 1 + mitosis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for amitosis

amitosis

[ ăm′ĭ-tō′sĭs, ā′mī- ]

n.

Direct cell division by simple cleavage of the nucleus, without spindle formation or the appearance of chromosomes.direct nuclear division

Related forms

am′i•tot′ic (-tŏt′ĭk) adj.