Meiosis - Definition
meiosis
n 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) [syn:
meiosis, miosis, reduction division]
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" [syn: litotes, meiosis]