Dictionary.com

spermatogenesis

[ spur-mat-uh-jen-uh-sis, spur-muh-tuh- ]
/ spɜrˌmæt əˈdʒɛn ə sɪs, ˌspɜr mə tə- /

noun Biology.

the origin and development of spermatozoa.

QUIZZES

FOR LEXICAL ALIMENTATION, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Nourish your vocabulary with a refresher on the words from the week of September 14–20, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “blatherskite” mean?
a person given to voluble, empty talk.
an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of spermatogenesis

From New Latin, dating back to 1880–85; see origin at spermato-, -genesis

OTHER WORDS FROM spermatogenesis

sper·ma·to·ge·net·ic [spur-muh-toh-juh-net-ik, sper-mat-oh-], /ˌspɜr mə toʊ dʒəˈnɛt ɪk, spərˌmæt oʊ-/, adjective

Words nearby spermatogenesis

spermato-, spermatoblast, spermatocele, spermatocide, spermatocyte, spermatogenesis, spermatogenous, spermatogonium, spermatoid, spermatolysis, spermatophore
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for spermatogenesis

British Dictionary definitions for spermatogenesis

spermatogenesis
/ (ˌspɜːmətəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs) /

noun

the formation and maturation of spermatozoa in the testisSee also spermatocyte (def. 1)

Derived forms of spermatogenesis

spermatogenetic (ˌspɜːmətəʊdʒəˈnɛtɪk), 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

Medical definitions for spermatogenesis

spermatogenesis
[ spər-măt′ə-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs, spûr′mə-tə- ]

n.

Formation and development of spermatozoa by meiosis and spermiogenesis.spermatocytogenesis

Other words from spermatogenesis

sper•mat′o•ge•net′ic (-jə-nĕt′ĭk) null adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for spermatogenesis

spermatogenesis
[ spər-măt′ə-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs, spûr′mə-tə- ]

The formation and development of spermatozoa. Spermatogenesis in humans begins with the spermatogonium, the diploid cell that undergoes mitosis to form new spermatogonia as well as cells called primary spermatocytes. Each primary spermatocyte then undergoes the first meiotic division to produce two secondary spermatocytes. Each secondary spermatocyte undergoes the second meiotic division to produce two nonmotile cells called spermatids. The four spermatids then develop flagella and become sperm. Since some of the original spermatogonia replace themselves, the males are able to produce large numbers of sperm continuously after sexual maturity.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.