What does germ meaning?

What does germ meaning?

1 : a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts. 2 : a microorganism causing disease : a pathogenic agent (as a bacterium or virus) broadly : microorganism. More from Merriam-Webster on germ.

What does germ mean in Latin?

a sprout, bud
Germ is a deceptively simple word that came to us from Latin germen, meaning a sprout, bud, or offshoot. In all of its meanings, the term germ retains the idea of developing into something more mature.

How do you pronounce germ?

Break ‘germ’ down into sounds: [JURM] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them….Below is the UK transcription for ‘germ’:

  1. Modern IPA: ʤə́ːm.
  2. Traditional IPA: ʤɜːm.
  3. 1 syllable: “JURM”

What is the root word for germ?

The word root GERM means: vital part, related. It comes from the Latin germen meaning an offshoot, sprout or bud. It often has the sense of developing into something more mature. GERM as a word can mean: 1) something that initiates development or serves as an origin.

Is germ short for German?

(lexicography) Abbreviation of germanska (“Germanic”).

When did Germ become a word?

The root of “germ,” on the other hand, is a different Latin word, “germen,” meaning the sprout or bud of a plant, which also gave us “germinate.” “Germ” first appeared in English in the 17th century with the sense of “sprout” or “seed.” A related Latin root, “germanus” (“akin” or “genuine”) gave us the modern English “ …

Who coined the term germ?

The French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, the English surgeon Joseph Lister, and the German physician Robert Koch are given much of the credit for development and acceptance of the theory.

When did the word germ originate?

What are germs cells?

Germ cells are the founder cells of all sexually reproducing organisms. During development, they are set aside from all somatic cells of the embryo. In many species, germ cells form at the fringe of the embryo proper and then traverse through several developing somatic tissues on their journey to the emerging gonad.