Meanings
nounnucleosome (plural nucleosomes)
plural nucleosomes
- biologyAny of the subunits that repeat in chromatin; a coil of DNA surrounding a core of eight histones.
We have termed these particles “nucleosomes,” to evoke their nuclear origin and their resemblance to the “nu” (ν) bodies described by Olins and Olins (1974).
1975, P. Oudet, M. Gross-Bellard, P.Champon, “Electron Microscopic and Biochemical Evidence that Chromosome Structure Is a Repeating Unit”, in Cell, →PMID, page 9
Origin
From nucleo- + -some, and to evoke the older name nu body. Coined by P. Oudet et al. in 1975 (see quotation below).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French nucléosome
- nucléosomerepeating subunit in chromatin
German Nukleosom
- Nukleosomrepeating subunit in chromatin
Italian nucleosoma
- nucleosomarepeating subunit in chromatin
Korean 뉴클레오솜
- 뉴클레오솜 (nyukeulle'osom)repeating subunit in chromatin
Spanish nucleosoma
- nucleosomarepeating subunit in chromatin
Swedish nukleosom
- nukleosomrepeating subunit in chromatin
Cite this entry
APA
nucleosome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nucleosome
MLA
“nucleosome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nucleosome. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nucleosome,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nucleosome.
Source: nucleosome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.