Miosis
/maɪˈoʊsɪs/noun
A reduction in the size of the pupil or of a cell nucleus.
Did you know?Miosis comes from Greek μίωσις (meiosis/miosis), tied to the verb μείω (meiō), “I lessen,” so the term is built around the ancient idea of shrinking or closing, not magic—though it sounds like it.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μείωσις (meíōsis)
“a lessening, diminution, or closing down”
Late Greek / Medical Greek
Greek
μίωσις (míōsis)
“constriction, especially of the pupil”
19th Century
English
miosis
“medical term for pupillary constriction”
Modern English
English
miosis
“constriction of the pupil or reduction in cell size”