bivalent

[ bahy-vey-luh nt, biv-uh- ]

/ baɪˈveɪ lənt, ˈbɪv ə- /

adjective

Chemistry.

having a valence of two.
having two valences, as aluminum with valences of two and three.

Genetics. pertaining to associations of two homologous chromosomes.

noun

Genetics. a pair of bivalent chromosomes, especially when pairing during meiosis.

Words nearby bivalent

biunique, biuniqueness, biuret, biuret reaction, bivalence, bivalent, bivalent chromosome, bivalve, bivane, bivariate, biventral

Origin of bivalent

First recorded in 1865–70; bi-¹ + -valent

OTHER WORDS FROM bivalent

bi·va·lence

[bahy-vey-luh ns, biv-uh-luh ns] /baɪˈveɪ ləns, ˈbɪv ə ləns/, bi·va·len·cy, noun

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

Examples from the Web for bivalent

The presence of bivalent cations, especially Ca, also favours the agglutination.
The Organism as a Whole|Jacques Loeb
Monoxide, mo-nok′sīd, n. an oxide containing a single oxygen atom in combination with two univalent atoms or one bivalent atom.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M)|Various
For the chromosomes of the heterotype mitosis arise by the looping round, not opening out, of the bivalent chromosomes.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8|Various
The connection of the element x with the spireme up to the stage where the spireme segments to form the bivalent chromosomes.
Studies in Spermatogenesis (Part 1 of 2)|Nettie Maria Stevens

Ionium expels an alpha particle and becomes radium, which is a bivalent element resembling barium belonging to the second group.
A Brief Account of Radio-activity|Francis Preston Venable

British Dictionary definitions for bivalent

bivalent

/ (baɪˈveɪlənt, ˈbɪvə-) /

adjective

chem another word for divalent

(of homologous chromosomes) associated together in pairs

noun

a structure formed during meiosis consisting of two homologous chromosomes associated together

Derived forms of bivalent

bivalency, noun

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 bivalent

bivalent

[ bī-vā′lənt ]

adj.

Having a valence of 2; divalent.

Consisting of a pair of homologous, synapsed chromosomes, as occurs during meiosis; double.

n.

A pair of homologous, synapsed chromosomes associated together during meiosis.

Other words from bivalent

bi•va′lence null n.

Science definitions for bivalent

bivalent

[ bī-vā′lənt ]

Chemistry Having a valence of 2.