| n. | 1. | (Rhet.) Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is; understatement; see also |
| 2. | (Cell Biology) The cellular process by which a diploid progenitor cell forms haploid gametes, including a division of one diploid cell into two cells, each with one of the homologous sets of chromosomes. |
| Noun | 1. | meiosis - (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) Synonyms: miosis, reduction division |
| 2. | meiosis - 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" Synonyms: litotes |