heterosis Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (genetics) the tendency of a crossbred organism to have qualities superior to those of either parent
    hybrid vigor.

WordNet

Het`e*ro"sis noun
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. alteration, fr. other, different.
Definitions
  1. (Rhet.) A figure of speech by which one form of a noun, verb, or pronoun, and the like, is used for another, as in the sentence: "What is life to such as me?" Aytoun.

Webster 1913