Spores are cells produced by bacteria and fungi which can develop into new bacteria or fungi.
spore in British English
(spɔː)
noun
1.
a reproductive body, produced by bacteria, fungi, various plants, and some protozoans, that develops into a new individual. A sexual spore is formed after the fusion of gametes and an asexual spore is the result of asexual reproduction
2.
a germ cell, seed, dormant bacterium, or similar body
verb
3. (intransitive)
to produce, carry, or release spores
Word origin
C19: from New Latin spora, from Greek: a sowing; related to Greek speirein to sow
spore in American English
(spɔr; spoʊr)
noun
1. Biology
any of various small reproductive bodies, usually consisting of a single cell, produced by bacteria, algae, mosses, ferns, certain protozoans, etc., either asexually (asexual spore) or by the union of gametes (sexual spore): they are capable of giving rise to a new adult individual, either immediately or after an interval of dormancy
2.
any small organism or cell that can develop into a new individual; seed, germ, etc.
verb intransitiveWord forms: spored or ˈsporing
3.
to bear or develop spores
Word origin
ModL spora < Gr, a sowing, seed, akin to speirein, to sow < IE base *(s)p(h)er-, to strew, sow > spread, sprout
Examples of 'spore' in a sentence
spore
You need to kill any insect eggs or fungal spores hiding in the bark.
The Sun (2011)
This allows infection by fungal spores which can ruin fruit.
The Sun (2014)
The fungal spores are not here by human hand alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Spray the soil and any support structure to kill fungal spores.
The Sun (2015)
It is not harmful but may harbour fungal spores or insect eggs.
The Sun (2014)
Proper cooking of meat will destroy anthrax spores.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He also advised people not to sweep up ash leaves to avoid stirring up fungus spores.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This will kill insects, their eggs and any fungal spores inside.
The Sun (2009)
If your symptoms occur in autumn, fungal spores are likely to be the predominant cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Also, spray the supporting structure to kill any fungal spores that are lurking there.
The Sun (2014)
Next, buy a product that will clean off the remnants and help kill any spores that you missed.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Pick off the swollen growths and burn them, because these contain the fungal spores that spread the infection to nearby plants.
The Sun (2014)
In addition, leather which has been mouldy may still contain nasty spores which could result in skin infections for your horse.
Eccles, Lesley Your First Horse - buying, feeding, caring (1989)
There are fears that many more plants could suffer in the summer, when the warmer weather allows the fungal spores to grow.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A man is in intensive care after he inhaled anthrax spores from imported animal hides that were to be made into drums.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This fungus usually produces infectious spores between October and April.
The Sun (2014)
This fungus produces spores between October and April.
The Sun (2013)
Pick off the swollen green growths and THE burn them before they turn white, as these contain fungal spores.
The Sun (2014)
Hundreds of thousands of pollen and spores are usually preserved in a few millimetres' thickness of sediment, each giving a clear identity of their parent plant.
Michael Boulter EXTINCTION: Evolution and the End of Man (2002)
Word lists with
spore
terms used in botany
In other languages
spore
British English: spore NOUN
Spores are cells produced by bacteria and fungi which can develop into new bacteria or fungi.
American English: spore
Brazilian Portuguese: esporo
Chinese: 孢子
European Spanish: espora
French: spore
German: Spore
Italian: spora
Japanese: 胞子
Korean: 포자
European Portuguese: esporo
Latin American Spanish: espora
All related terms of 'spore'
spore case
→ sporangium
spore fruit
any specialized structure, as an ascocarp , in which spores are formed
spore print
the pattern produced by placing the cap of a mushroom on a piece of paper and allowing the spores to fall
swarm spore
→ zoospore
asexual spore
a spore that is the result of asexual reproduction
sexual spore
a spore formed after the fusion of gametes and an asexual spore is the result of asexual reproduction