Meaning
The first part of the prophase of meiosis, characterized by threadlike chromosomes
Etymology
Origin: French
From French leptotène, corresponding to lepto- (“thin”) + -tene (“ribbon”). Coined by Hans von De Winiwarter in 1900 and in English by Edmund B. Wilson in 1912.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
leptonema
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2021, 2023, 2025.