heterokaryon

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noun

A cell having two or more genetically different nuclei

OriginEnglish karyon ← Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros) ← Proto-Hellenic *hə́teros →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounheterokaryon (plural heterokaryons)

plural heterokaryons

  1. biologyA cell having two or more genetically different nuclei

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sḿ̥teros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*hə́teros
  4. Ancient Greekἕτερος (héteros)
  5. Englishhetero-
  6. Englishkaryon
  7. Englishheterokaryon

From hetero- + karyon.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

heterokaryon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterokaryon

MLA

“heterokaryon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterokaryon. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heterokaryon,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterokaryon.

Source: heterokaryon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.