germ
[ jurm ]
/ dʒɜrm /
noun
a microorganism, especially when disease-producing; microbe.
a bud, offshoot, or seed.
the rudiment of a living organism; an embryo in its early stages.
the 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.
adjective
Pathology.
of, relating to, or caused by disease-producing germs.
Origin of germ
OTHER WORDS FROM germ
germ·less, adjective germ·like, adjectiveWords nearby germ
Example sentences from the Web for germ
British Dictionary definitions for germ
germ
/ (dʒɜːm) /
noun
a microorganism, esp one that produces disease in animals or plants
(often plural)
the rudimentary or initial form of something
the germs of revolution
a simple structure, such as a fertilized egg, that is capable of developing into a complete organism
Word Origin for germ
C17: from French
germe, from Latin
germen sprig, bud, sprout, seed
Medical definitions for germ
germ
[ jûrm ]
n.
A small mass of protoplasm or cells from which a new organism or one of its parts may develop.
A microorganism, especially a pathogen.
Scientific definitions for germ
germ
[ jûrm ]
A microscopic organism or agent, especially one that is pathogenic, such as a bacterium or virus.
Usage
The terms germ and microbe have been used to refer to invisible agents of disease since the nineteenth century, when scientists introduced the germ theory of disease, the idea that infections and contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms. Microbe, a shortening and alteration of microorganism, comes from the Greek prefix mikro-, small, and the word bios, life. Scientists no longer use the terms germ and microbe very much. Today they can usually identify the specific agents of disease, such as individual species of bacteria or viruses. To refer generally to agents of disease, they use the term pathogen, from the Greek pathos, suffering, and the suffix -gen, producer. They use microorganism to refer to any unicellular organism, whether disease-causing or not.