Meanings
nounleptonema (plural leptonemas)
plural leptonemas
- The stage during meiosis Prophase 1 where the chromosomes condense after S-phase and interphase, resulting in the recombination of haploid chromosome pairs with sister chromatids held by a single non-dividing centromeres, and followed by the zygotene stage.
Synonyms: leptotene
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe stage during meiosis Prophase 1 where the chromosomes condense after S-phase and interphase, resulting in the recombination of haploid chromosome pairs with sister chromatids held by a single non-dividing centromeres, and followed by the zygotene stage.
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Also see
Origin
- Ancient Greekλεπτός (leptós)
- Englishlepto-
- Englishleptonema
From lepto- (“thin”) + -nema (“filiform structure”).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
leptonema. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leptonema
MLA
“leptonema.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leptonema. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “leptonema,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leptonema.
Source: leptonema on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.