centrosome

American  

[sen-truh-sohm] / ˈsɛn trəˌsoʊm /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a small region near the nucleus in the cell cytoplasm, containing the centrioles.

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centrosome British  

/ ˌsɛntrəˈsɒmɪk, ˈsɛntrəˌsəʊm /

noun

1. Also called: centrosphere.  a small body in a cell where microtubules are produced. In animal cells it surrounds the centriole

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centrosome Scientific  

/ sĕn′trə-sōm′ /

1. A specialized region of the cytoplasm that is located next to the nucleus of a cell and contains the centrioles. The cells of most eukaryotes except plants have centrosomes.

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Other Word Forms

• centrosomic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of centrosome

First recorded in 1895–1900; centro- + -some ³

Compare meaning

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

• centrosome vs. centromere

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

centrosome

However, the exact function of the centrioles in cell division isn’t clear, because cells that have had the centrosome removed can still divide, and plant cells, which lack centrosomes, are capable of cell division.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Animal cells each have a centrosome and lysosomes, whereas most plant cells do not.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Animal cells also have a centrosome and lysosomes.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

In fact, in animal cells, the centrosome is the microtubule-organizing center.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The further steps in this process appear to be controlled by the centrosome, although it is not quite certain whence this centrosome is derived.

From The Story of the Living Machine A Review of the Conclusions of Modern Biology in Regard to the Mechanism Which Controls the Phenomena of Living Activity by Conn, H. W. (Herbert William)