heterosis

[ het-uh-roh-sis ]

nounGenetics.
  1. the increase in growth, size, fecundity, function, yield, or other characters in hybrids over those of the parents.

Origin of heterosis

1
First recorded in 1910–15, heterosis is from the Late Greek word hetérōsis an alteration. See hetero-, -sis

Words Nearby heterosis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for heterosis

heterosis

/ (ˌhɛtəˈrəʊsɪs) /


noun
  1. biology another name for hybrid vigour

Origin of heterosis

1
C19: from Late Greek: alteration, from Greek heteroioun to alter, from heteros other, different

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012