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metaphase
[ met-uh-feyz ]
/ ˈmɛt əˌfeɪz /
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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.
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Words nearby metaphase
Metanira, metanitrophenol, metanoia, metapelet, metaph., metaphase, metaphase plate, Metaphen, metaphor, metaphorical, metaphorically
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use metaphase in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for metaphase
metaphase
/ (ˈmɛtəˌfeɪz) /
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
Scientific 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
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