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microspore

[mahy-kruh-spawr, ‐spohr]
noun Botany.
  1. the smaller of the two kinds of spores characteristically produced by seed plants and some fern allies, developing into a male gametophyte.Compare megaspore,
  2. a pollen grain.
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Origin of microspore

First recorded in 1855–60; micro- + -spore
Related formsmi·cro·spor·ic [mahy-kruh-spawr-ik, ‐spor‐] /ˌmaɪ krəˈspɔr ɪk, ‐ˈspɒr‐/, mi·cro·spor·ous [mahy-kruh-spawr-uh s, ‐spohr‐, mahy-kros-per-uh s] /maɪ krəˈspɔr əs, ‐ˈspoʊr‐, maɪˈkrɒs pər əs/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for microspore

Historical Examples

  • Microspore, the smaller kind of spore when there are two kinds, 161.

    The Elements of Botany

    Asa Gray

  • Germination of the microspore begins before it leaves the pollen-sac.

British Dictionary definitions for microspore

microspore

noun
  1. the smaller of two types of spore produced by some spore-bearing plants, which develops into the male gametophyteCompare megaspore (def. 1)
  2. the pollen grain of seed plants
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Derived Formsmicrosporic or microsporous, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for microspore

n.

1856, from micro- + spore.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
microspore in Science

microspore

[mīk′rə-spôr′]
  1. One of the two types of haploid spores produced by a heterosporous plant. Microspores develop into male gametophytes and are usually smaller than megaspores. In angiosperms, the microspore develops into the pollen grain.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.