endospore

[ en-duh-spawr, -spohr ]
/ ˈɛn dəˌspɔr, -ˌspoʊr /

noun

Botany, Mycology. the inner coat of a spore. Compare intine.
Bacteriology. a spore formed within a cell of a rod-shaped organism.

Origin of endospore

First recorded in 1870–75; endo- + spore

OTHER WORDS FROM endospore

en·dos·por·ous [en-dos-per-uh s, en-doh-spawr-, -spohr-] /ɛnˈdɒs pər əs, ˌɛn doʊˈspɔr-, -ˈspoʊr-/, adjective en·dos·por·ous·ly, adverb

Words nearby endospore

endoskeleton, endosmosis, endosome, endosonoscopy, endosperm, endospore, endosporium, endostatin, endosteitis, endosteoma, endosteum

Example sentences from the Web for endospore

  • When the spore is coloured, the external membrane alone appears to possess colour, the endospore being constantly hyaline.

    Fungi: Their Nature and Uses |Mordecai Cubitt Cooke

British Dictionary definitions for endospore

endospore
/ (ˈɛndəʊˌspɔː) /

noun

a small asexual spore produced by some bacteria and algae
the innermost wall of a spore or pollen grain

Derived forms of endospore

endosporous (ɛnˈdɒspərəs, ˌɛndəʊˈspɔːrəs), adjective

Medical definitions for endospore

endospore
[ ĕn′də-spôr′ ]

n.

A small spore formed within the vegetative cells of some bacteria.
A fungus spore borne within a cell or within the tubular end of a sporophore.
The inner layer of the wall of a spore.

Scientific definitions for endospore

endospore
[ ĕn′də-spôr′ ]

A rounded, inactive form that certain bacteria assume under conditions of extreme temperature, dryness, or lack of food. The bacterium develops a waterproof cell wall that protects it from being dried out or damaged. Bacteria have been known to remain dormant but alive in the form of endospores for long periods of time, even thousands of years. Also called endosporium