heterogamete

[ het-er-uh-gam-eet, -uh-roh-guh-meet ]

noun

, Cell Biology.

1. either of a pair of conjugating gametes differing in form, size, structure, or sex.

heterogamete

/ ˌhɛtərəʊɡæˈmiːt /

noun

1. a gamete that differs in size and form from the one with which it unites in fertilization Compare isogamete

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterogamete¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; hetero- + gamete