microspore

[ mahy-kruh-spawr, ‐spohr ]

/ ˈmaɪ krəˌspɔr, ‐ˌspoʊr /

noun Botany.

the smaller of the two kinds of spores characteristically produced by seed plants and some fern allies, developing into a male gametophyte.Compare megaspore,

a pollen grain.

Nearby words

microspectroscope, microspherocytosis, microsphygmy, microsplenia, microsporangium, microspore, microsporocyte, microsporogenesis, microsporophyll, microsporum, microstat

Origin of microspore

First recorded in 1855–60; micro- + -spore

Related forms

mi·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for microspore

Germination of the microspore begins before it leaves the pollen-sac.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Part 1, Slice 1|Various
Microspore, the smaller kind of spore when there are two kinds, 161.
The Elements of Botany|Asa Gray

British Dictionary definitions for microspore

microspore

/ (ˈmaɪkrəʊˌspɔː) /

noun

the smaller of two types of spore produced by some spore-bearing plants, which develops into the male gametophyteCompare megaspore (def. 1)

the pollen grain of seed plants

Derived Forms

microsporic 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

Science definitions for microspore

microspore

[ mīk′rə-spôr′ ]

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.