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

Each chromatid, now called a chromosome, is pulled rapidly toward the centrosome to which its microtubule is attached.

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

A centrosome is a pair of centrioles together.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The centrosome consists of a pair of rod-like centrioles at right angles to each other.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

These latter commence by the doubling of the centrosome, a small spherical body alongside the nucleus.

From Creative Evolution by Mitchell, Arthur