synizesis

syn·i·ze·sis  (sn-zss)

n. pl. syn·i·ze·ses (-sz)

1. Linguistics The union in pronunciation of two adjacent vowels into one syllable without forming a diphthong.

2. Biology The phase of meiosis in some species in which the chromatin contracts into a mass at one side of the nucleus.

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[Late Latin synizsis, from Greek sunizsis, from sunizein, to collapse : sun-, syn- + hizein, to settle down; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]

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synizesis [ˌsɪnɪˈziːsɪs]

n

1. (Linguistics / Phonetics & Phonology) Phonetics the contraction of two vowels originally belonging to separate syllables into a single syllable, without diphthongization Compare syneresis

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) Cytology the contraction of chromatin towards one side of the nucleus during the prophase of meiosis

[via Late Latin from Greek sunizēsis a collapse, from sunizanein to sink down, from syn- + hizein to sit]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

synizesis - the contraction of chromatin towards one side of the nucleus during the prophase of meiosis synezesis biological process, organic process - a process occurring in living organisms prophase - the first stage of meiosis