chro‧mo‧some /ˈkrəʊməsəʊm $ ˈkroʊməsoʊm/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: chroma ( ⇒ chromatic) + soma 'body'; because chromosomes easily take up coloring substances]
a part of every living cell that is shaped like a thread and contains the genes that control the size, shape etc that a plant or animal has ⇒ y chromosome

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲