nucleolus
[ noo-klee-uh-luh s, nyoo- ]
/ nuˈkli ə ləs, nyu- /
noun, plural nu·cle·o·li [noo-klee-uh-lahy, nyoo-] /nuˈkli əˌlaɪ, nyu-/. Cell Biology.
a conspicuous, rounded body within the nucleus of a cell.
Words nearby nucleolus
nucleolate,
nucleolated,
nucleoliform,
nucleoloid,
nucleolonema,
nucleolus,
nucleon,
nucleon number,
nucleonics,
nucleopetal,
nucleophile
Example sentences from the Web for nucleoli
British Dictionary definitions for nucleoli
nucleolus
/ (ˌnjuːklɪˈəʊləs) /
noun plural -li (-laɪ)
a small rounded body within a resting nucleus that contains RNA and proteins and is involved in the production of ribosomes
Also called: nucleole
Derived forms of nucleolus
nucleolar, nucleolate or nucleolated, adjectiveWord Origin for nucleolus
C19: from Latin, diminutive of
nucleus
Medical definitions for nucleoli
nucleolus
[ nōō-klē′ə-ləs ]
n. pl. nu•cle•o•li (-lī′)
A small, typically round granular body composed of protein and RNA in the nucleus of a cell, usually associated with a specific chromosomal site and involved in ribosomal RNA synthesis and the formation of ribosomes.
Other words from nucleolus
nu•cle′o•lar (-lər) adj.Scientific definitions for nucleoli
nucleolus
[ nōō-klē′ə-ləs ]
Plural nucleoli (nōō-klē′ə-lī′)
A small, typically spherical granular body located in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, composed largely of protein and RNA. When the cell is not undergoing division, loops of DNA from one or more chromosomes extend into the nucleolus and direct the synthesis of ribosomal RNA and the formation of ribosomes. The ribosomes are eventually transferred out of the nucleus via pores in the nuclear envelope into the cytoplasm.