spermato-

American  

especially before a vowel, spermat-.

1. a combining form meaning “seed”; used with this meaning and as a combining form of sperm in the formation of compound words.

   spermatogonium.

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spermato- British  

combining form

1. indicating sperm

   spermatogenesis

2. indicating seed

   spermatophyte

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Usage

What does spermato- mean? Spermato- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “seed" and “sperm.” Sperm are the reproductive cells contained in semen. Spermato- is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology in reference to the reproductive cycles of plants and animals. Spermato- comes from the Greek spérma, meaning “sperm.”What are variants of spermato-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, spermato- becomes spermat-, as in spermaturia. The forms sperm-, spermi-, and spermo- are also combining forms from Greek spérma that are variously used to mean "sperm" or "seed."Related combining forms used as suffixes include -sperm, -spermal, -spermic, and -spermous. Want to learn more? Check out our Words That Use entries for each of these seven forms.

Etymology

Origin of spermato-

< Greek spermat- (stem of spérma; see sperm ¹) + -o-

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