centromere

American  

[sen-truh-meer] / ˈsɛn trəˌmɪər /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a specialized structure on the chromosome, appearing during cell division as the constricted central region where the two chromatids are held together and form an X shape.

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centromere British  

/ ˌsɛntrəˈmɛrɪk, ˈsɛntrəˌmɪə, -ˈmɪərɪk /

noun

1. the dense nonstaining region of a chromosome that attaches it to the spindle during mitosis

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centromere Scientific  

/ sĕn′trə-mîr′ /

1. The region of the chromosome to which the spindle fiber is attached during cell division (both mitosis and meiosis). The centromere is the constricted point at which the two chromatids forming the chromosome are joined together.

2. See more at meiosis mitosis

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Other Word Forms

• centromeric adjective

Etymology

Origin of centromere

First recorded in 1920–25; centro- + -mere

Compare meaning

How does centromere compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• centrosome vs. centromere

Example Sentences

Next, we want to understand how the kinetochore -- the protein machinery that recognizes centromeres -- can accommodate such dramatic changes in centromere DNA over evolutionary time.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

Scientists call this puzzling pattern the "centromere paradox."

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

Previously believed to consist of a compact structure attaching to multiple spindle microtubules, it was instead revealed that the centromere consists of two subdomains.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2024

A karyotype is the number and appearance of chromosomes, including their length, banding pattern, and centromere position.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

During anaphase, the sister chromatids at the equatorial plane are split apart at the centromere.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013