spireme

[spahy-reem]

noun Cell Biology.

the threadlike chromatin of a cell nucleus, present during early meiosis or mitosis.

Origin of spireme

1885–90; < Greek speírēma coil, equivalent to speirē-, variant stem of speirâsthai to be coiled around + -ma noun suffix of result

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for spireme

Historical Examples of spireme

The spireme here, as also in figure 99, is fine and closely interwound.
Studies in Spermatogenesis (Part 1 of 2)
Nettie Maria Stevens
Figure 55 shows the spireme segmented and split longitudinally.
Studies in Spermatogenesis (Part 1 of 2)
Nettie Maria Stevens
In iron-hæmatoxylin preparations this pair is often obscured by parts of the spireme which are tangled around it.
Studies in Spermatogenesis
Nettie Maria Stevens
As in most of the other species of Coleoptera, the unequal pair is not distinguishable until the spireme stage.
Studies in Spermatogenesis
Nettie Maria Stevens
It is closely applied to the nuclear membrane and is connected with an end of the spireme (figs. 51-54).
Studies in Spermatogenesis (Part 1 of 2)
Nettie Maria Stevens

British Dictionary definitions for spireme

spireme

noun

cytology the tangled mass of chromatin threads into which the nucleus of a cell is resolved at the start of mitosis

Word Origin for spireme

C19: from Greek speirēma a coil, from speira a coil, spire ²

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