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Noun: metaphase  'me-tu,feyz
  1. The second stage of mitosis
    "During metaphase, the chromosomes align at the cell's equator"
     
  2. The second stage of meiosis
    "In metaphase of meiosis, the paired chromosomes line up along the equatorial plate"

Derived forms: metaphases

Type of: phase of cell division

Part of: meiosis, mitosis, reduction division

Encyclopedia: Metaphase