metagenesis

American

[met-uh-jen-uh-sis] / ˌmɛt əˈdʒɛn ə sɪs /

noun

Biology.

reproduction characterized by the alternation of a sexual generation and a generation that reproduces asexually; alternation of generations.

metagenesis British

/ ˌmɛtədʒɪˈnɛtɪk, ˌmɛtəˈdʒɛnɪsɪs /

noun

another name for alternation of generations

"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

Other Word Forms

metagenetic adjective
metagenetically adverb
metagenic adjective

Etymology

Origin of metagenesis

First recorded in 1885–90; meta- + genesis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Metamorphosis, however, graduates so insensibly into metagenesis, that the two processes cannot be distinctly separated.

From Project Gutenberg

Metamorphosis, however, graduates so insensibly, into metagenesis, that the two processes cannot be distinctly separated.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023