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

Scientists call this puzzling pattern the "centromere paradox."

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

The scientists identified what they describe as a "proto-point" centromere, an intermediate form that connects today's tiny yeast centromeres to their more complex ancestors.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

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

During DNA duplication in the S phase, each chromosome is replicated to produce two identical copies, called sister chromatids, that are held together at the centromere by cohesin proteins.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The darkly staining regions usually contain genes that are not active, and are found in the regions of the centromere and telomeres.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013