CHIASMA


Meaning of CHIASMA in English

[ kʌɪ'azmə , kɪ- ]

■ noun ( plural ~ta -tə )

1》 (also optic ~ ) Anatomy the X-shaped structure formed at the point below the brain where the two optic nerves cross over each other.

2》 Biology a point at which paired chromosomes remain in contact during the first metaphase of meiosis.

Origin

C19: mod. L., from Gk ~ 'crosspiece, cross-shaped mark', from khiazein 'mark with the letter chi'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.