Definition of Meiosis

Noun: meiosis (meioses) mI'ow-sis

(genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)
- miosis, reduction division
Understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)
"saying 'I was not a little upset' when you mean 'I was very upset' is an example of meiosis";
- litotes