polar body
noun
: a cell that separates from an oocyte during meiosis and that contains a nucleus produced in the first or second meiotic division and very little cytoplasm
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web But studies of other birds have revealed that on occasion, the polar body somehow merges again with the egg, acting like sperm fertilizing it. 
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2021 If an egg with a W chromosome merges with its polar body, the resulting WW embryo will not be viable. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2021 In one version of parthenogenesis called automixis, an animal can merge a polar body with an egg to produce offspring. Corryn Wetzel, National Geographic, 25 Aug. 2020 The extra chromosome material left over from the egg’s final stage of division remains in a smaller sphere called a polar body. Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 Typically, these polar bodies break down in the woman’s body. Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 This may mean that too much cytoplasm — the fluid inside cells — ended up in the polar body. Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 See More
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2021 If an egg with a W chromosome merges with its polar body, the resulting WW embryo will not be viable. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2021 In one version of parthenogenesis called automixis, an animal can merge a polar body with an egg to produce offspring. Corryn Wetzel, National Geographic, 25 Aug. 2020 The extra chromosome material left over from the egg’s final stage of division remains in a smaller sphere called a polar body. Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 Typically, these polar bodies break down in the woman’s body. Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 This may mean that too much cytoplasm — the fluid inside cells — ended up in the polar body. Marissa Fessenden, Smithsonian, 10 Feb. 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1882, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
polar body
noun
: a cell that separates from an oocyte during meiosis:
a
: one containing a nucleus produced in the first meiotic division
called also first polar body
b
: one containing a nucleus produced in the second meiotic division
called also second polar body
- haversian system
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- having a soft spot for
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- having done (with)
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- having on
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- having over
- having said that
- having sex