释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024germ /dʒɜrm/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Microbiologya living thing small enough to be visible only through a microscope, esp. such a living thing that produces disease;
microbe. - a source of development;
origin; seed:the germ of an idea.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024germ ( jûrm),USA pronunciation n. - Microbiologya microorganism, esp. when disease-producing;
microbe. - Botanya bud, offshoot, or seed.
- Developmental Biologythe rudiment of a living organism;
an embryo in its early stages. - Developmental Biologythe initial stage in development or evolution, as a germ cell or ancestral form.
- something that serves as a source or initial stage for subsequent development:the germ of an idea.
adj. - Pathologyof, pertaining to, or caused by disease-producing germs.
- Latin germen shoot, sprout, by dissimilation from *genmen, equivalent. to gen- (see genitor, genus) + -men resultative noun, nominal suffix)
- Middle French germe
- late Middle English 1400–50
germ′less, adj. germ′like′, adj. - 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged spark, root, bud, rudiment, seed.
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