meiosis

n. process of cell division which occurs in the maturation of sex cells (Biology)

In biology, meiosis (IPA: ) is the process by which one diploid eukaryotic cell divides to generate four haploid cells often called gametes. The word "meiosis" comes from the Greek meioun, meaning "to make smaller," since it results in a reduction in chromosome number in the gamete cell.Meiosis is essential for sexual reproduction and therefore occurs in all eukaryotes (including single-celled organisms) that reproduce sexually. A few eukaryotes, notably the Bdelloid rotifers, have lost the ability to carry out meiosis and have acquired the ability to reproduce by parthenogenesis. Meiosis does not occur in archaea or bacteria, which reproduce via asexual processes such as mitosis or binary fission.
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Noun
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)
(synonym) miosis, reduction division
(hypernym) cell division, cellular division
(hyponym) nondisjunction
(part-meronym) anaphase
(classification) genetics, genetic science
2. understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary); "saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes"
(synonym) litotes
(hypernym) rhetorical device

n. meiosis

(n.)
Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is.