micronucleated
|mi-cro-nu-cle-at-ed|
🇺🇸
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈnuːkliˌeɪtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˌmaɪkrəʊˈnjuːkliˌeɪtɪd/
(micronucleate)
having or forming a small nucleus
Etymology
'micronucleate' originates from Greek and Latin elements, specifically the Greek prefix 'micro-' from 'mikros' meaning 'small' and the Latin 'nucleus' meaning 'kernel' or 'core', combined with the suffix '-ate' used to form adjectives or verbs in scientific English.
'micronucleus' arose in modern scientific usage (19th–20th century) to denote a small extra nucleus; 'micronucleate' developed from that compound to describe cells that have or form such small nuclei, and 'micronucleated' is the adjectival/past participle form.
Initially it described 'having a small nucleus' in a literal sense; over time it has taken on the specific technical meaning 'containing one or more micronuclei (often due to chromosomal damage or mitotic error)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'micronucleate' (to form or become micronucleated).
After exposure, many cells micronucleated, indicating chromosomal breakage.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having or showing one or more micronuclei; used to describe a cell that contains small extranuclear bodies (micronuclei), often as an indicator of chromosomal damage or mitotic error.
Micronucleated cells were counted to assess the genotoxic effect of the chemical.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/24 22:37