kinetochore

K5I1N1E1T1O1C3H4O1R1E1
UK/k(ʌ)ɪˈniːtəʊkɔː/US/kəˈnitoʊkɔɹ/

noun

The protein structure in eukaryotes which assembles on the centromere and links the chromosome to microtubule polymers from the mitotic spindle during mitosis.

Similar
centromere
OriginAncient Greek χῶρος →
UncommonScrabble 20
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Meanings

nounkinetochore (plural kinetochores)

plural kinetochores

  1. biologyThe protein structure in eukaryotes which assembles on the centromere and links the chromosome to microtubule polymers from the mitotic spindle during mitosis.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna specialized condensed region of each chromosome that appears during mitosis where the chromatids are held together to form an X shape

Similar
centromere
Broader
structureanatomical structurecomplex body part
Also see
centromerepericentromere

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekχῶρος“space, locality”
  2. Englishkinetochore

From kineto- + Ancient Greek χῶρος (khôros, “space, locality”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French kinétochore
  • kinétochoreTranslations
Russian кинетохо́р
  • кинетохо́р (kinetoxór)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

kinetochore. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kinetochore

MLA

“kinetochore.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kinetochore. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kinetochore,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kinetochore.

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