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metaphase

[met-uh-feyz]
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noun Cell Biology.

the stage in mitosis or meiosis in which the duplicated chromosomes line up along the equatorial plate of the spindle.

Origin of metaphase

First recorded in 1885–90; meta- + phase
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for metaphase

Historical Examples of metaphase

  • Diploid (2n) chromosome numbers were determined from cells in late prophase and metaphase of mitosis.

  • Haploid (n) chromosome numbers were determined from cells in diakinesis, metaphase I, and metaphase II of meiosis.

  • Figure 29 is the equatorial plate of a metaphase in which the larger component of the unequal pair has been removed in sectioning.

    Studies in Spermatogenesis

    Nettie Maria Stevens

  • Figure 260 shows a side view of the second spindle in metaphase, and figure 261 in anaphase.

    Studies in Spermatogenesis

    Nettie Maria Stevens

  • Figures 50 and 51 show polar views of the metaphase, the smaller element (x) being the unequal pair.

    Studies in Spermatogenesis

    Nettie Maria Stevens

British Dictionary definitions for metaphase

metaphase

noun

biology the second stage of mitosis during which the condensed chromosomes attach to the centre of the spindleSee also prophase (def. 1), anaphase (def. 1), telophase (def. 1)
the corresponding stage of the first division of meiosis
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
Medicine definitions for metaphase

metaphase

[mĕt′ə-fāz′]

n.

The stage of mitosis and meiosis, following prophase and preceding anaphase, during which the chromosomes are aligned along the metaphase plate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for metaphase

metaphase

[mĕt′ə-fāz′]

The stage of cell division in which the duplicated chromosomes become aligned along the center of the cell, called the equatorial plate or metaphase plate. Metaphase lasts up to an hour, and ends in mitosis and the second division of meiosis when separation of the paired chromosomal strands (called chromatids) begins. In the first division of meiosis, the paired chromosomes separate from one another. Metaphase is preceded by prophase and followed by anaphase. See more at meiosis mitosis.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.