zygotene

Z10Y4G2O1T1E1N1E1

noun

The intimate pairing of homologous chromosomes during the synaptic stage of meiosis

Similar
zygonema
OriginFrench zygotène ← Ancient Greek ζυγόν →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounzygotene (plural zygotenes)

plural zygotenes

  1. biologyThe intimate pairing of homologous chromosomes during the synaptic stage of meiosis

    Synonyms: zygonema

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe intimate pairing of homologous chromosomes during the synaptic stage of meiosis

Similar
zygonema

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekζυγόν“junction, yoke”
  2. Frenchzygotène
  3. Englishzygotene

From French zygotène, corresponding to zygo- (“union, zygosis”, from Ancient Greek ζυγόν (zugón, “junction, yoke”)) + -tene (“filament”, from ταινία (tainía, “band, fillet”)), equivalent to zygote + -tene. Coined by Victor Grégoire in 1907 and in English by Edmund B. Wilson in 1912.

More words from French, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan zigotè
  • zigotèpairing of chromosomes during meiosis
Finnish tsygoteeni
  • tsygoteenipairing of chromosomes during meiosis
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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