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polyspermy

American  
[pol-ee-spur-mee] / ˈpɒl iˌspɜr mi /

noun

  1. the fertilization of an ovum by several spermatozoa.

Other Word Forms

  • polyspermic adjective

Etymology

Origin of polyspermy

First recorded in 1885–90; polyspermia, -y 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"This prevents polyspermy -- the fusion of multiple sperm with a single egg -- which is a fatal condition for the embryo."

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024

If this mechanism fails, multiple sperm can fuse with the egg, resulting in polyspermy.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

When the first sperm fuses with the oocyte, the oocyte deploys two mechanisms to prevent polyspermy, which is penetration by more than one sperm.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.