synapsis

syn·ap·sis

[si-nap-sis]
noun, plural syn·ap·ses [-seez] .
1.
Also called syndesis. Cell Biology. the pairing of homologous chromosomes, one from each parent, during early meiosis.
2.
Physiology, synapse.

Origin:
1645–55; < Neo-Latin < Greek sýnapsis junction, equivalent to synap- (stem of synáptein to make contact, equivalent to syn- syn- + (h)áptein to touch) + -sis -sis

syn·ap·tic [si-nap-tik] , syn·ap·ti·cal, adjective
syn·ap·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Synapsis is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
Collins
World English Dictionary
synapsis (sɪˈnæpsɪs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -ses
1.  cytology the association in pairs of homologous chromosomes at the start of meiosis
2.  another word for synapse
 
[C19: from New Latin, from Greek sunapsis junction, from sunaptein to join together, from syn- + haptein to connect]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

synapsis syn·ap·sis (sĭ-nāp'sĭs)
n. pl. syn·ap·ses (-sēz)
The side-by-side association of homologous paternal and maternal chromosomes during early meiotic prophase.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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