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

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

This gives a concrete genetic explanation for how yeast ended up with this unusual centromere type.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

The centromere is a part of the chromosome that plays a vital role in chromosome segregation during mitosis.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2024

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

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

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013