spermatophore

[ spur-mat-uh-fawr, -fohr, spur-muh-tuh- ]
/ spɜrˈmæt əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈspɜr mə tə- /

noun Zoology.

a capsule surrounding a mass of spermatozoa, produced by the male of various animal species and transferred to the female.

Origin of spermatophore

First recorded in 1840–50; spermato- + -phore

OTHER WORDS FROM spermatophore

sper·ma·toph·or·al [spur-muh-tof-er-uh l] /ˌspɜr məˈtɒf ər əl/, sper·ma·toph·o·rous [spur-muh-tof-er-uh s] /ˌspɜr məˈtɒf ər əs/, adjective

Words nearby spermatophore

spermatogenesis, spermatogenous, spermatogonium, spermatoid, spermatolysis, spermatophore, spermatophyte, spermatopoietic, spermatorrhea, spermatorrhoea, spermatotoxic

British Dictionary definitions for spermatophore

spermatophore
/ (ˈspɜːmətəʊˌfɔː) /

noun

a capsule of spermatozoa extruded by some molluscs, crustaceans, annelids, and amphibians

Derived forms of spermatophore

spermatophoral (ˌspɜːməˈtɒfərəl), adjective

Scientific definitions for spermatophore

spermatophore
[ spər-măt′ə-fôr′ ]

A capsule or compact mass of spermatozoa extruded by the males of certain invertebrates and primitive vertebrates and directly transferred to the reproductive parts of the female.