gamete
Americannoun
noun
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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.
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Also called germ cell reproductive cell, sex cell
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See Note at mitosis
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gamete
1885–90; < New Latin gameta < Greek gamet- (stem of gametḗ wife, gamétēs husband), derivative of gameîn to marry
Compare meaning
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Explanation
A gamete is the male or female reproductive cell that contains half the genetic material of the organism. When two human gametes meet — that is, a sperm cell and an ovum — you get a zygote, a fertilized egg. And, if all goes well, that zygote will become a human baby.
Vocabulary lists containing gamete
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Cell Biology - Middle School
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Genetics - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There are ethical questions about the treatment of surrogates and gamete donors and the fate of embryos when couples break up.
From Slate • Oct. 7, 2025
Notably, it’s scientifically inaccurate to say sex can be determined at conception, to say nothing of the limitations of defining a person solely by gamete size.
From Salon • Jan. 23, 2025
Helen Gibson, founder of Surrogacy Concern, a UK group which campaigns on issues relating to surrogacy and gamete donation said the organisation did not support "any payment for gametes".
From BBC • Sep. 30, 2024
"In the model plant thale cress, we have discovered the signal that activates the female gamete to form a new seed," says Grossniklaus.
From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2024
On crossing the rose with the pea union occurs between a gamete Rp and a gamete rP, resulting in the formation of a heterozygote of the constitution RrPp.
From Mendelism Third Edition by Punnett, Reginald Crundall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
