ȯgˈzēsə̇s, ȯkˈse- noun
( plural auxe·ses -ēˌsēz)
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek auxēsis increase, from auxanein, auxein to increase + ēsis -esis — more at eke
1. : growth ; specifically : increase of cell size without cell division — compare merisis
2. : the process by which certain diatoms that have become small through repeated asexual divisions are restored to normal size, the protoplasts escaping from the cell wall and increasing to normal size or fusing to form auxospores or zygospores that then increase to normal size before new cell walls form