/mīˈōsəs/
Noun, pl. meioses
(Genetics/Cytology)
1. 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). (wordnetweb.princeton.edu)
2. A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes and plant spores. (Google Dictionary)
3. Cell division of a diploid cell into four haploid cells, which develop to produce gametes. (wiktionary.org
4. Cell division occurring in maturation of sex cells, wherein, over two successive cell divisions, each daughter nucleus receives half the number of chromosomes typical of the somatic cells of the species, so that the gametes are haploid. (Dorland’s Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers)
5. The special process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that results in the formation of gametes, consisting of two nuclear divisions in rapid succession that in turn result in the formation of four gametocytes, each containing half the number of chromosomes that is found in somatic cells. (The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary)
(Rhetoric)
1. A figure of speech whereby something is made to seem smaller or less important than it actually is. (wiktionary.org)
Word origin: From Greek meiosis “a lessening,” from meioun “to lessen,” from meion “less.”