germ

American  

[jurm] / dʒɜrm /

noun

1. a microorganism, especially when disease-producing; microbe.

2. a bud, offshoot, or seed.

3. the rudiment of a living organism; an embryo in its early stages.

4. the initial stage in development or evolution, as a germ cell or ancestral form.

   Synonyms:

   seed, rudiment, bud, root, spark

5. something that serves as a source or initial stage for subsequent development.

   the germ of an idea.

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adjective

1. Pathology. of, relating to, or caused by disease-producing germs.

germ British  

/ dʒɜːm /

noun

1. a microorganism, esp one that produces disease in animals or plants

2. (often plural) the rudimentary or initial form of something

   the germs of revolution

3. a simple structure, such as a fertilized egg, that is capable of developing into a complete organism

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germ Scientific  

/ jûrm /

1. A microscopic organism or agent, especially one that is pathogenic, such as a bacterium or virus.

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Usage

The terms germ and microbe have been used to refer to invisible agents of disease since the nineteenth century, when scientists introduced the germ theory of disease, the idea that infections and contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms. Microbe, a shortening and alteration of microorganism, comes from the Greek prefix mikro–, “small,” and the word bios, “life.” Scientists no longer use the terms germ and microbe very much. Today they can usually identify the specific agents of disease, such as individual species of bacteria or viruses. To refer generally to agents of disease, they use the term pathogen, from the Greek pathos, “suffering,” and the suffix –gen, “producer.” They use microorganism to refer to any unicellular organism, whether disease-causing or not.

Other Word Forms

• germless adjective
• germlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of germ

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French germe < Latin germen shoot, sprout, by dissimilation from *genmen, equivalent to gen- ( genitor, genus ) + -men resultative noun suffix)

Example Sentences

Normally, Dad would lecture me about sharing germs, but his cheesy grin doesn’t falter.

From Literature

“A shield that repels germs while it gently cleanses your pores, leaving a spanking-clean exterior.”

From Literature

“Friends have germs. Their noses drip. They cough all over you. I’m much healthier without them.”

From Literature

"Guaranteed to zap germs before they can get a foothold."

From Literature

She wiped her hands on a rag before handing the rag to the boy and announcing, “You’re on germ duty.”

From Literature

Related Words

• antibody
• bacterium
• bug
• disease
• microbe
• microorganism
• pathogen
• virus