spermatophore

[ spur-mat-uh-fawr, -fohr, spur-muh-tuh- ]

/ spɜrˈmæt əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈspɜr mə tə- /

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noun Zoology.

a capsule surrounding a mass of spermatozoa, produced by the male of various animal species and transferred to the female.

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Origin of spermatophore

First recorded in 1840–50; spermato- + -phore

OTHER WORDS FROM spermatophore

sper·ma·toph·or·al

[spur-muh-tof-er-uhl], /ˌspɜr məˈtɒf ər əl/, sper·ma·toph·o·rous

[spur-muh-tof-er-uhs], /ˌspɜr məˈtɒf ər əs/, adjective

Words nearby spermatophore

spermatogenesis, spermatogenous, spermatogonium, spermatoid, spermatolysis, spermatophore, spermatophyte, spermatopoietic, spermatorrhea, spermatorrhoea, spermatotoxic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

British Dictionary definitions for spermatophore

spermatophore

/ (ˈspɜːmətəʊˌfɔː) /

noun

a capsule of spermatozoa extruded by some molluscs, crustaceans, annelids, and amphibians

Derived forms of spermatophore

spermatophoral (ˌspɜːməˈtɒfərəl), 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

Scientific definitions for spermatophore

spermatophore

[ spər-măt′ə-fôr′ ]

A capsule or compact mass of spermatozoa extruded by the males of certain invertebrates and primitive vertebrates and directly transferred to the reproductive parts of the female.