Multinuclear

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Consisting of several nuclei within a singular cellular structure
2. Describing cellular compositions where multiple nuclei operate collectively within one entity
3. Comprising a single entity that contains multiple nuclei functioning simultaneously

Etymology: Multinuclear is a plain modern coinage: English "multi-" joined to "nuclear." The first half comes from Latin "multus," meaning "many" or "much," which passed through Latin "multi-" as a combining form. "Nuclear" is itself built on Latin "nucleus," a diminutive of "nux," "nut," so the word's core image is a little kernel inside a shell. The combination describes a cell holding several nuclei rather than one. Biologists use the term for such cells, which occur in various organisms, and the word translates directly into its parts: many kernels, one cellular structure.

Synonyms: polyploid, multiple-nucleus

Antonyms: mononuclear