gamete
[ gam-eet, guh-meet ]
/ ˈgæm it, gəˈmit /
noun Biology.
a mature sexual reproductive cell, as a sperm or egg, that unites with another cell to form a new organism.
Nearby words
Origin of gamete
1885–90; < New Latin gameta < Greek gamet- (stem of gametḗ wife, gamétēs husband), derivative of gameîn to marry
Related formsga·met·ic [guh-met-ik] /gəˈmɛt ɪk/, ga·me·tal [guh-meet-l] /gəˈmit l/, adjectivega·met·i·cal·ly, adverb
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for gamete
British Dictionary definitions for gamete
gamete
/ (ˈɡæmiːt, ɡəˈmiːt) /
noun
a haploid germ cell, such as a spermatozoon or ovum, that fuses with another germ cell during fertilization
Derived Formsgametal or gametic (ɡəˈmɛtɪk), adjective
Word Origin for gamete
C19: from New Latin, from Greek gametē wife, from gamos marriage
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for gamete
gamete
"sexual protoplasmic body," 1880, coined 1878 by German cytologist Eduard Strasburger (1844-1912), the widespread attribution to Mendel being apparently erroneous; from Greek gamete "a wife," gametes "a husband," from gamein "to take to wife, to marry," from PIE root *gem(e)- "to marry" (cf. Greek gambros "son-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law;" Sanskrit jamih "brother, sister," jama daughter-in-law;" Avestan zama-tar "son-in-law;" Latin gener "son-in-law"). Cf. also -gamy. The seventh month of the ancient Attic calendar (corresponding to late January and early February) was Gamelion, "Month of Marriages."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for gamete
gamete
[ găm′ēt′, gə-mēt′ ]
n.
A reproductive cell having the haploid number of chromosomes, especially a sperm or egg capable of fusing with a gamete of the opposite sex to produce a fertilized egg.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for gamete
gamete
[ găm′ēt′ ]
A cell whose nucleus unites with that of another cell to form a new organism. A gamete contains only a single (haploid) set of chromosomes. Animal egg and sperm cells, the nuclei carried in grains of pollen, and egg cells in plant ovules are all gametes. Also called germ cell reproductive cell, sex cell See Note at mitosis.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Culture definitions for gamete
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.