germ Hear it!

germ definition

germ (jʉrm)

noun

  1. the rudimentary form from which a new organism is developed; seed; bud
  2. any microscopic organism, esp. one of the bacteria, that can cause disease
  3. that from which something can develop or grow; basis the germ of an idea

Etymology: ME germe, a bud, sprout < OFr < L germen, sprig, bud, germ, embryo < IE *gen-men (> Sans janiman-, birth, origin) < base *ĝen-: see genus

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.