spermatophore

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

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

noun Zoology.

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

Nearby words

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

Origin of spermatophore

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

Related forms

sper·ma·toph·or·al

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for spermatophore

spermatophore

/ (ˈspɜːmətəʊˌfɔː) /

noun

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

Derived Forms

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

Science 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.