homeobox

H4O1M3E1O1B3O1X8

noun

A short sequence of DNA that is shared by several genes involved in the morphogenesis of many organisms.

Similar
homeobox gene
OriginEnglish box ← Ancient Greek ὅμοιος (hómoios) ← Proto-Hellenic *homós →
UncommonScrabble 22
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Meanings

nounhomeobox (plural homeoboxes)

plural homeoboxes

  1. biologyA short sequence of DNA that is shared by several genes involved in the morphogenesis of many organisms.

    When he looked in mice, there it was again: almost exactly the same 180-letter string – the homeobox.

    1999, Matt Ridley, Genome, Harper Perennial, published 2004, page 176

Synonyms & antonyms

nounone of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during embryonic development

Similar
homeobox gene
Broader
homeotic gene
Also see
homeobox gene

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*somHós
  3. Proto-Hellenic*homós
  4. Ancient Greekὁμός (homós)
  5. Ancient Greekὅμοιος (hómoios)
  6. Englishhomeo-
  7. Englishbox
  8. Englishhomeobox

From homeo- + box.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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