| prophase definitions |
| # | Definition | Sets |
| 1 | first and longest phase of mitosis, during which the chromosomes become visible and the centrioles separate and take up positions on the opposite sides of the nucleus | 38 sets |
| 2 | the first stage of mitosis | 29 sets |
| 3 | the first stage of mitosis or meiosis in eukaryotic cell division, during which the nuclear envelope breaks down and strands of chromatin form into chromosomes | 23 sets |
| 4 | the first phase of mitosis | 19 sets |
| 5 | first and longest phase of mitosis where chromatin coils into visible chromosomes | 16 sets |
| 6 | first phase of mitosis | 12 sets |
| 7 | first and longest phase of mitosis | 12 sets |
| 8 | the first stage of mitosis and meiosis in cell division; characterized by the condensation of the chromosomes and the dissolution of the nuclear envelope | 9 sets |
| 9 | first phase of mitosis in which chromosomes become visible and nuclear membraine disappears | 9 sets |
| 10 | chromosomes condense | 9 sets |
| 11 | first stage of mitosis, during which the cell's chromatin condenses into chromosomes | 8 sets |
| 12 | the first stage of mitosis and meiosis in cell division; characterized by the condensation of the chromosomes | 8 sets |
| 13 | first stage of mitosis and of meiosis i and ii, when the already replicated chromosomes condense | 8 sets |
| 14 | chromosomes become visible | 7 sets |
| 15 | the first step of mitosis | 5 sets |
| 16 | the first stage of mitosis and meiosis in cell division | 5 sets |
| 17 | first stage of mitosis | 5 sets |
| 18 | nuclear membrane breaks down | 5 sets |
| 19 | the sister chromatids condense to become thicker and visible when viewed through a microscope | 4 sets |
| 20 | chromatin condenses into chromosomes | 4 sets |
| 21 | the first stage of mitosis, in which the chromatin is condensing and the mitotic spindle begins to form, but the nucleolus and nucleus are still intact. | 4 sets |
| 22 | the chromatin condenses into chromosomes. the centrioles separate, and a spindle begins to form. the nuclear envelope breaks down. | 4 sets |
| 23 | chromatin condenses into chromosomes. the centrioles separate, and a spindle begins to form. nuclear membrane breaks down. | 4 sets |
| 24 | nucleolus disappears, centrioles move to ends of cell, and spindle fibers appear. | 4 sets |
| 25 | the first stage of meiosis | 4 sets |
| 26 | the chromatin condenses into chromosomes. the centrioles seperate, and a spindle begins to form. the nuclear membrane breaks down | 4 sets |
| 27 | the first stage of mitosis and meiosis, characterized by condensation of chromosomes | 4 sets |
| 28 | the first stage of mitosis /meiosis in cell division; characterized by the condensation of the chromosomes and the dissolution of the nuclear envelope | 4 sets |
| 29 | chromosomes condense, nuclear envelope disappears, microtubules form spindle fibers which attach to centromeres of chromosomes | 3 sets |
| 30 | chromosomes thicken | 3 sets |
| 31 | 1st phase of mitosis | 3 sets |
| 32 | the first stage of mitosis, in which the chromatin condenses, the mitotic spindle begins to form, and the nucleolus disappears, but the nucleus remains intact. | 3 sets |
| 33 | chromosomes wind up and become visible | 3 sets |
| 34 | the nuclear envelope fragments. | 3 sets |
| 35 | the first stage of mitosis, during which the chromatin condenses to form structures (sister chromatids) visible with a light microscope and the mitotic spindle begins to form, but the nucleus is still intact. | 3 sets |
| 36 | chromosomes become visible, nuclear envelope breaks down | 3 sets |
| 37 | chromosomes first appear to be duplex structures. | 3 sets |
| 38 | the first subphase of mitosis, in which the chromatin is condensing and the mitotic spindle begins to form, but the nucleolus and nucleus are still intact. | 3 sets |
| 39 | the first stage of mitosis, during which duplicated chromosomes condense from chromatin, and the mitotic spindle forms and begins moving the chromosomes toward the center of the cell. | 3 sets |
| 40 | longest phase of mitosis | 3 sets |