diaster

American  

[dahy-as-ter] / daɪˈæs tər /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. the stage in mitosis at which the chromosomes, after their division and separation, are grouped near the poles of the spindle.

---

diaster British  

/ daɪˈæstə /

noun

1. rare cytology the stage in cell division at which the chromosomes are in two groups at the poles of the spindle before forming daughter nuclei

---

Other Word Forms

• diastral adjective

Etymology

Origin of diaster

First recorded in 1880–85; di- ¹ + -aster ²

Example Sentences

Flooding on Friday also killed at least one person in Badakhshan, a mountainous eastern province, where it destroyed homes, small dams and bridges and killed 2,000 livestock, the provincial diaster management department said.

From New York Times • May 11, 2024

The question is whether the two sides of Sam Altman are ultimately compatible: Does it make sense to ride that curve if it could end in diaster?

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2023

Itaewon has been declared a “special diaster zone” since last Sunday.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2022

Private analysts such as Paul Stares, a space specialist at the Brookings Institution, says the diaster will also "cause more people to question the ability of an SDI defense to work without problems."

From US News • Jan. 28, 2016

Such a polar star is seen at each end of the nucleus-spindle, and is not to be confused with the diaster H, the two ends of which are composed of chromatin.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John