microgamete

American  

[mahy-kroh-gam-eet, -guh-meet] / ˌmaɪ kroʊˈgæm it, -gəˈmit /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. (in heterogamous reproduction) the smaller and, usually, the male of two conjugating gametes.

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microgamete British  

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˈɡæmiːt /

noun

1. the smaller and apparently male of two gametes in conjugating protozoans Compare macrogamete

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microgamete Scientific  

/ mī′krō-găm′ēt′,-gə-mēt′ /

1. The smaller of a pair of conjugating gametes, usually the male, in an organism that reproduces by heterogamy.

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Etymology

Origin of microgamete

First recorded in 1890–95; micro- + gamete

Example Sentences

A smaller gamete sex type, called a microgamete, fertilizes a larger sex type, called a macrogamete, producting a 2n zygote.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The microgamete in this case is the male element and equivalent to a spermatozoon; the megagamete is the female and equivalent to an egg-cell.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 "Finland" to "Fleury, Andre" by Various

The quality of maleness consists only in the size, form, and mobility of the sperm in the higher animals and of the microgamete in other cases.

From Hormones and Heredity by Cunningham, J. T.