How Do You Spell MERISTIC?

Pronunciation: [mɛɹˈɪstɪk] (IPA)

Meristic is spelled mɛˈrɪstɪk. The word comes from the Greek word "merismos" meaning "dividing" or "distributing," and the English suffix "-ic" indicating "of, relating to, or characterized by." Meristic is used in biology to describe organisms that can be counted in whole numbers, such as the number of fins on a fish or segments on a worm. The IPA phonetic transcription breaks down each sound in the word, with mɛ representing the "e" sound, ˈrɪ representing the "i" sound, and stɪk representing the "s" and "k" sounds.

MERISTIC Meaning and Definition

1. Meristic is an adjective that refers to the quantitative aspects of an organism's anatomy or morphology, particularly relating to countable features or characteristics that can be numerically measured or described. It is derived from the Greek word "meros," meaning "part" or "portion," and is primarily used in biological and zoological contexts.

   In biology, meristic traits are used to study and classify organisms based on their structural or morphological characteristics that can be counted, such as the number of fins, legs, or petals. These traits provide a numerical basis for comparison and analysis of species within a group or population, and may be used to identify and distinguish between different individuals or species. Meristic analysis can provide valuable insights into the genetic, developmental, or environmental factors that influence the variation and distribution of these traits among species or populations.

   Moreover, meristic traits can also hold significant importance in ecological studies, as they enable researchers to assess the impact of environmental factors on the development and morphology of organisms. By quantifying the meristic characteristics of individuals in different environments or populations, scientists can gain insights into the mechanisms driving phenotypic variation and adaptation.

   Overall, the concept of meristic is fundamental to the study and understanding of various biological phenomena, encompassing the quantitative analysis of anatomical or morphological countable traits in organisms.

2. Symmetrical, that can be divided evenly, noting bilateral or longitudinal symmetry in the arrangement of parts in one organism.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for MERISTIC

• merestick
• mewroistic
• myrstic
• neristic
• keristic
• mwristic
• msristic
• mdristic
• mrristic
• m4ristic
• m3ristic
• meeistic
• medistic
• mefistic
• metistic
• me5istic
• me4istic
• merustic
• merjstic
• merkstic

Etymology of MERISTIC

The word "meristic" comes from the Greek word "meros" meaning "part" or "portion". It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*mer-" which also gave rise to words like "mere" and "merit" in English. In biology, "meristic" refers to the counting or analysis of discrete parts or segments of an organism, such as the number of vertebrae in a fish or the number of petals on a flower.