pycnosis

/paɪˈkan.əsɪs/

Definitions

1. noun

A condition in which cells shrink and their cytoplasm becomes more compact, often as a result of dehydration or other cellular stress.

“The plant’s leaves exhibited pycnosis due to the extreme drought, causing them to wither and die.”

Synonyms

  • cell shrinkage
  • cytoplasmic condensation

Antonyms

  • cell swelling
  • cytoplasmic expansion