polytene

adjective

poly·​tene ˈpä-lē-ˌtēn How to pronounce polytene (audio)
: relating to, being, or having chromosomes each of which consists of many strands with the corresponding chromomeres in contact
polyteny noun

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polytene was in 1935

Dictionary Entries Near polytene

Cite this Entry

“Polytene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polytene. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

polytene

adjective
poly·​tene ˈpäl-i-ˌtēn How to pronounce polytene (audio)
: relating to, being, or having chromosomes each of which consists of many strands with the corresponding chromomeres in contact
polyteny noun
plural polytenies
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!