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

The centrosome has two bodies perpendicular to each other, the centrioles, and has an unknown purpose in cell division.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

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

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

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The centrosome is a region near the nucleus of animal cells that functions as a microtubule-organizing center.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Anaphase of first maturation mitosis, one centrosome divided.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part I by Stevens, Nettie Maria