anaphase

/ˌænəˈfeɪz/

Anaphase is a stage in cell division that happens towards the end of mitosis. During anaphase, chromosomes move away from each other.

Your biology teacher probably has a lot to say about anaphase, which comes after metaphase and before telophase during mitosis. Anaphase is important because the movement of chromosomes to the outer edges of the cell paves the way for cell division, when one cell actually splits into two completely separate cells. Anaphase was first coined in German, from the Greek ana-, "back."

Definitions of anaphase

1. noun

   the stage of meiosis or mitosis when chromosomes move toward opposite ends of the nuclear spindle
   type of:

   phase of cell division

   a stage in meiosis or mitosis