What is "reduction division"

n. 1 (context biology genetics cytology English) the first of the two divisions of meiosis, a type of cell division. 2 (context biology genetics cytology English) meiosis as a whole, a type of cell division.

n. (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants) [syn: meiosis, miosis]