Acrocentric
/ˌæk.roʊˈsen.trɪk/noun
Describing a chromosome with its centromere near one end, so one arm is much shorter than the other.
Did you know?Acrocentric is a modern scientific coinage built from Greek roots, and its “acro-” element comes from the same ancient root behind words like acrobat and acropolis, all tied to height or the top.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ákros
“at the extreme end, highest, topmost”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kéntron
“sharp point, goad, center”
19th Century
French/Scientific Latin
acrocentrique
“scientific term formed to describe a chromosome with the centromere near one end”
20th Century
English
acrocentric
“adopted into English genetics as a technical term for a chromosome type”
Explore more surprising origins