cytokinesis

noun

cy·​to·​ki·​ne·​sis ˌsī-tō-kə-ˈnē-səs 

-kī-

1

: the cytoplasmic changes accompanying mitosis

2

: cleavage of the cytoplasm into daughter cells following nuclear division

cytokinetic

ˌsī-tō-kə-ˈne-tik 

-kī-

adjective

Examples of cytokinesis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Successful embryos had an initial cytokinesis, or division of the cell’s cytoplasm, lasting between 0 and 33 minutes, a gap between first and second cell divisions lasting 7.8 – 14.3 hours, and an interval between second and third cell divisions of 0 – 5.8 hours. —Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2010

Explore photosynthesis, osmosis, nitrogen fixation, and other life processes • Investigate the cell cycle (mitosis and cytokinesis) • —Bruce Sterling, WIRED, 28 Apr. 2012

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

cytokinesis

noun

cy·​to·​ki·​ne·​sis ˌsīt-ō-kə-ˈnē-səs, -kī- 

plural cytokineses -ˌsēz 

1

: the cytoplasmic changes accompanying mitosis

2

: cleavage of the cytoplasm into daughter cells following nuclear division compare karyokinesis

cytokinetic

-ˈnet-ik 

adjective