Thesaurus: germ

Related headwords

Definitions

1. n. That which is to develop a new individual; as, the germ of a fetus, of a plant or flower, and the like; the earliest form under which an organism appears.
2. n. That from which anything springs; origin; first principle; as, the germ of civil liberty.
3. v. i. To germinate.
4. n. anything that provides inspiration for later work
5. n. a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism
6. n. a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use
7. That which is to develop a new individual; as, the germ of afetus, of a plant or flower, and the like; the earliest form underwhich an organism appears.In the entire process in which a new being originates . . . twodistinct classes of action participate; namely, the act of generationby which the germ is produced; and the act of development, by whichthat germ is evolved into the complete organism. Carpenter.
8. n:100 n. a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism