sporulate

[ spawr-yuh-leyt, spor- ]

verb (used without object)

, Biology.

, spor·u·lat·ed, spor·u·lat·ing.

1. to produce spores.

sporulate

/ ˈspɒrjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. intr to produce spores, esp by multiple fission

Derived Forms

• ˌsporuˈlation, noun

Other Words From

• sporu·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporulate¹

First recorded in 1880–85; sporule + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The life-history of all of these is very similar, the principal difference being in the length of time it takes them to sporulate.

From Project Gutenberg