mitotic

adjective

mi·​tot·​ic mī-ˈtä-tik How to pronounce mitotic (audio)
: of, relating to, involving, or occurring by cellular mitosis
mitotic cell division
mitotic recombination
Microtubules move material through the cell and, in particular, form an important component of the mitotic spindle, which is a structure that separates the duplicated sets of chromosomes in the course of cell division.Sebastian Doniach
mitotically adverb

Examples of mitotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The two centrosomes form a mitotic spindle—a bundle of ropelike components that align the chromosomes and pull them apart during cell division. Trevor Grandpre, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2024 The researchers confirmed that the mitotic stopwatch was frequently defective in tumor samples. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 29 Mar. 2024 For your body to reach its current size, there have been trillions of mitotic cell divisions. Matthew Cobb, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2015 Chromosomes, the bundles of DNA that star in the mitotic ballet of cell division, play a leading role in complex life. Quanta Magazine, 2 Feb. 2022 Skin cells, stomach cells, and all somatic cells are mitotic cells. David Warmflash, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2016

Word History

Etymology

mit(osis) + -otic

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mitotic was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near mitotic

Cite this Entry

“Mitotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mitotic. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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