metaphase The stage of cell division during which the membrane around the nucleus breaks down, the spindle forms, and centromeres attach the chromosomes to the equator of the spindle. In the first metaphase of meiosis pairs of chromosomes (bivalents) are attached, while in mitosis and the second metaphase of meiosis, individual chromosomes are attached.

metaphase A stage of mitosis or meiosis at which the chromosomes move about within the spindle until they eventually arrange themselves in its equatorial region.

metaphase The stage of mitosis or meiosis at which the chromosomes move about within the spindle until they eventually arrange themselves in its equatorial region.

metaphase (met-ă-fayz) n. the second stage of mitosis and of each division of meiosis, in which the spindle forms and the chromosomes line up at the centre of the spindle, with their centromeres attached to the spindle fibres.