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Glite Dictionary
centriole

centriole

1 8.3
A small tube-shaped part near the nucleus in animal cells that helps form spindle fibers during cell division
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛntrɪoʊl/
  • Specialized
: centriolo
  • In animal cells, each centriole helps organize the spindle fibers during cell division.

Examples

  • The chromosomes are attached to the spindle fibers and anchored by the centrioles.

    Academic text (2003)

  • During mitosis, the centrioles play a crucial role in separating the chromosomes.

  • The presence of centrioles is essential for the proper formation of spindle fibers in animals.

Surface Forms

centriole singular
centrioles plural

Morphology

centriole = center (semi-transparent) = centri + iole

The relation to 'center' is clear, but the diminutive suffix '-iole' is not a productive or familiar English suffix for many learners, so the specific biological sense may not be fully predictable.

Etymology

Centriole comes from centri- meaning 'center' and the ending -ole meaning 'little', so it literally means 'little center'. That's a helpful image because a centriole is a small part near the cell's center that helps organize the fibers the cell uses when it divides.