Definition of bivalent in English:
 bivalent
adjective bʌɪˈveɪl(ə)ntbaɪˈveɪlənt
1Biology 
(of homologous chromosomes) associated in pairs.
 Example sentencesExamples
-  A bivalent B chromosome was removed directly from a pachytene slide by a micromanipulator.
 -  Slides containing F 2 worms were screened for the presence of worms with diakinesis nuclei exhibiting more than six chromatin masses (indicating failure in bivalent formation).
 -  If chromosomes 1 and 2 are genetically more identical, as are chromosomes 3 and 4, there are three different combinations for the bivalent chromosome pairing.
 -  Note that the bivalent sex chromosome remaining in the vicinity of the equator appears to be oriented to the poles.
 -  Because only homologous chromosomes pair, allopolyploids strictly exhibit bivalent formation (two chromosomes pair) at meiosis and undergo disomic inheritance for each locus.
 
2Chemistry 
another term for divalent
 Example sentencesExamples
-  The bivalent cations were slightly increased as well as chloride and phosphate.
 -  Using strips of sister holograms from one slide, we made a range of measurements of various mono- and bivalent ions.
 -  It causes the cell wall to become rigid by blocking free carboxyl groups that interact with bivalent ions like Ca 2 +.
 -  The surface of BR is bound with bivalent metal cations, charge amino acids and polar phospholipids to form an asymmetrical distribution of charges on the membrane surface.
 -  A comparison of the effect of monovalent counterions and bivalent counterions is a subject of our future work.
 
noun bʌɪˈveɪl(ə)ntbaɪˈveɪlənt
Biology A pair of homologous chromosomes.
 Example sentencesExamples
-  Three properties of meiotic chromosomes act to form a bivalent that will undergo proper reductional division.
 -  On average, each double-crossover bivalent produces one double-crossover chromosome (of four) in the absence of chromatid interference.
 -  An additional line drawing to the side depicts the spatial arrangement of the bivalent corresponding to LG - 02 and the FISH signals associated therewith.
 -  However, no investigation has been made into whether homologous chromosome pairs or bivalents with altered patterns of recombination events may also be at increased risk for nondisjunction in mammals other than humans.
 -  True non-disjunction as a mechanism causing aneuploidy was separately assessed when a bivalent was found in a set of metaphase II chromosomes.
 
Origin
  
Mid 19th century: from bi- 'two' + Latin valent- 'being strong' (from the verb valere).
   Definition of bivalent in US English:
 bivalent
adjectivebaɪˈveɪləntbīˈvālənt
1Biology 
(of homologous chromosomes) associated in pairs.
 Example sentencesExamples
-  A bivalent B chromosome was removed directly from a pachytene slide by a micromanipulator.
 -  Note that the bivalent sex chromosome remaining in the vicinity of the equator appears to be oriented to the poles.
 -  Because only homologous chromosomes pair, allopolyploids strictly exhibit bivalent formation (two chromosomes pair) at meiosis and undergo disomic inheritance for each locus.
 -  Slides containing F 2 worms were screened for the presence of worms with diakinesis nuclei exhibiting more than six chromatin masses (indicating failure in bivalent formation).
 -  If chromosomes 1 and 2 are genetically more identical, as are chromosomes 3 and 4, there are three different combinations for the bivalent chromosome pairing.
 
2Chemistry 
another term for divalent
 Example sentencesExamples
-  The bivalent cations were slightly increased as well as chloride and phosphate.
 -  A comparison of the effect of monovalent counterions and bivalent counterions is a subject of our future work.
 -  It causes the cell wall to become rigid by blocking free carboxyl groups that interact with bivalent ions like Ca 2 +.
 -  Using strips of sister holograms from one slide, we made a range of measurements of various mono- and bivalent ions.
 -  The surface of BR is bound with bivalent metal cations, charge amino acids and polar phospholipids to form an asymmetrical distribution of charges on the membrane surface.
 
nounbaɪˈveɪləntbīˈvālənt
Biology A pair of homologous chromosomes.
 Example sentencesExamples
-  However, no investigation has been made into whether homologous chromosome pairs or bivalents with altered patterns of recombination events may also be at increased risk for nondisjunction in mammals other than humans.
 -  An additional line drawing to the side depicts the spatial arrangement of the bivalent corresponding to LG - 02 and the FISH signals associated therewith.
 -  Three properties of meiotic chromosomes act to form a bivalent that will undergo proper reductional division.
 -  On average, each double-crossover bivalent produces one double-crossover chromosome (of four) in the absence of chromatid interference.
 -  True non-disjunction as a mechanism causing aneuploidy was separately assessed when a bivalent was found in a set of metaphase II chromosomes.
 
Origin
  
Mid 19th century: from bi- ‘two’ + Latin valent- ‘being strong’ (from the verb valere).