haplo-
Single or simple.
[Greek haploos, single.]
In genetics, a haploid cell is one that has only a single set of unpaired chromosomes, for example a sperm or egg cell in humans. Organisms which are haplodiploid have females which develop from fertilized (diploid) eggs and males from unfertilized (haploid) ones. See also diplo-.
In writing, haplography is the inadvertent omission of a repeated letter or letters (for example, writing philogy instead of philology, or Missippi for Mississippi); in speech, haplology is a similar omission of a sound or syllable (for example, saying probly when probably is meant).
Visit Michael Quinion’s World Wide Words site for 2000+ articles on English!
Copyright © Michael Quinion 2008–. All rights reserved. Page last updated 23 September 2008.
Your comments and suggestions on the site are very welcome.