meiosis

名词 meiosis:

1. (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)
   同义词：miosis, reduction division
2. understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)
   同义词：litotes

mei.o.sis

n.（名词）
【复数】 mei.o.ses[-sôz.]
Genetics The process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes in reproductive cells, leading to the production of gametes in animals and spores in plants.
【遗传学】 （细胞核的）减数分裂：发生在有性生殖的生物中之细胞分裂过程，这一过程会减少生殖细胞染色体数目，从而导致动物配偶子和植物孢子之产生
Rhetorical understatement.
间接肯定法：修辞上之轻描淡写、有节制的说法

来源：
Greek meiôsis [diminution]
希腊语 meiôsis [减少]
from meioun [to diminish]
源自 meioun [减少]
from meiôn [less] * see mei- 2
源自 meiôn [更少] *参见 mei- 2

【引伸】
meiot.ic
meiot.ically
adv.（副词）