leptotene

L1E1P3T1O1T1E1N1E1

noun

The first part of the prophase of meiosis, characterized by threadlike chromosomes

Similar
leptonema
OriginFrench leptotène →
Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nounleptotene (plural leptotenes)

plural leptotenes

  1. biologyThe first part of the prophase of meiosis, characterized by threadlike chromosomes

    Synonyms: leptonema

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe first part of the prophase of meiosis, characterized by threadlike chromosomes

Similar
leptonema
Also see
leptonema

Origin

  1. Frenchleptotène
  2. Englishleptotene

From French leptotène, corresponding to lepto- (“thin”) + -tene (“ribbon”). Coined by Hans von De Winiwarter in 1900 and in English by Edmund B. Wilson in 1912.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan leptotè
  • leptotèpart of meiosis
Finnish leptoteeni
  • leptoteenipart of meiosis
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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