spermatocyte

[ spur-mat-uh-sahyt, spur-muh-tuh- ]
/ spɜrˈmæt əˌsaɪt, ˈspɜr mə tə- /

noun Cell Biology.

a male germ cell (primary spermatocyte) that gives rise by meiosis to a pair of haploid cells (secondary spermatocytes) that give rise in turn to spermatids.

Origin of spermatocyte

First recorded in 1885–90; spermato- + -cyte

OTHER WORDS FROM spermatocyte

sper·ma·to·cyt·al, adjective

Words nearby spermatocyte

spermatium, spermato-, spermatoblast, spermatocele, spermatocide, spermatocyte, spermatogenesis, spermatogenous, spermatogonium, spermatoid, spermatolysis

British Dictionary definitions for spermatocyte

spermatocyte
/ (ˈspɜːmətəʊˌsaɪt) /

noun

zoology an immature male germ cell, developed from a spermatogonium, that gives rise, by meiosis, to four spermatids
botany a male germ cell that develops into an antherozoid

Medical definitions for spermatocyte

spermatocyte
[ spər-măt′ə-sīt′, spûr′mə-tə- ]

n.

A diploid cell that undergoes meiosis to form four spermatids.

Other words from spermatocyte

sper•mat′o•cyt′al (-sīt′l) adj.

Scientific definitions for spermatocyte

spermatocyte
[ spər-măt′ə-sīt′ ]

A diploid cell that undergoes meiosis to form four spermatids, cells which then develop into sperm. See more at spermatogenesis.