meiosis

meiosis
    n 1: (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) [syn:
         {meiosis}, {miosis}, {reduction division}]
    2: 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" [syn: {litotes}, {meiosis}]
    

Meiosis \Mei*o"sis\ (m[-i]*[=o]"s[i^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
   mei`wsis, fr. meioy^n to make smaller, from mei`wn. See
   {Meionite}.]
   1. (Rhet.) Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a
      thing as being less than it really is; understatement; see
      also {litotes}.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   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.
      [PJC]