microspore

[ mahy-kruh-spawr, ‐spohr ]
/ ˈmaɪ krəˌspɔr, ‐ˌspoʊr /

noun Botany.

the smaller of the two kinds of spores characteristically produced by seed plants and some fern allies, developing into a male gametophyte. Compare megaspore,
a pollen grain.

Origin of microspore

First recorded in 1855–60; micro- + -spore

OTHER WORDS FROM microspore

mi·cro·spor·ic [mahy-kruh-spawr-ik, ‐spor‐] /ˌmaɪ krəˈspɔr ɪk, ‐ˈspɒr‐/, mi·cro·spor·ous [mahy-kruh-spawr-uh s, ‐spohr‐, mahy-kros-per-uh s] /maɪ krəˈspɔr əs, ‐ˈspoʊr‐, maɪˈkrɒs pər əs/, adjective

Words nearby microspore

microspectroscope, microspherocytosis, microsphygmy, microsplenia, microsporangium, microspore, microsporocyte, microsporogenesis, microsporophyll, microsporum, microstat

Example sentences from the Web for microspore

British Dictionary definitions for microspore

microspore
/ (ˈmaɪkrəʊˌspɔː) /

noun

the smaller of two types of spore produced by some spore-bearing plants, which develops into the male gametophyte Compare megaspore (def. 1)
the pollen grain of seed plants

Derived forms of microspore

microsporic or microsporous, adjective

Scientific definitions for microspore

microspore
[ mīk′rə-spôr′ ]

One of the two types of haploid spores produced by a heterosporous plant. Microspores develop into male gametophytes and are usually smaller than megaspores. In angiosperms, the microspore develops into the pollen grain.