telomere

noun

telo·​mere ˈte-lə-ˌmir How to pronounce telomere (audio) ˈtē- How to pronounce telomere (audio)
: the natural end of a eukaryotic chromosome composed of a usually repetitive DNA sequence and serving to stabilize the chromosome

Examples of telomere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Even the length of the telomere, a protective cap that protects the chromosome and an indicator of aging in other species, remained stable over time unless the individuals were stressed. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025 Scientists say Scott’s telomeres may have been positively affected by his better exercise and diet routine in space. Jen Christensen, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025 Each time a cell divides, telomeres shorten slightly. Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025 The proteomic aging clock tends to show lower values when telomeres are longer. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for telomere

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of telomere was in 1940

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Cite this Entry

“Telomere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telomere. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

telomere

noun
: the natural end of a eukaryotic chromosome composed of a usually repetitive DNA sequence and serving to stabilize the chromosome
telomeric adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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