Definition of: meiosis

(mī·ō′sis) noun
1. Biol. That process in the division of germ cells by which the number of chromosomes is reduced from the double or diploid number typical of somatic cells to the halved or haploid number characteristic of gametes: distinguished from mitosis: also spelled maiosis.
2. In rhetoric, understatement, often giving the effect of irony or humor, by representing a fact, thing, deed, etc., as being smaller than it really is: also spelled miosis. [<Gk. meiōsis lessening]
—mei·ot′ic (-ot′ik) adjective