spermatophore

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

noun Zoology.

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

Origin of spermatophore

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

Related formssper·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

noun

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

Derived Formsspermatophoral (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

spermatophore in Science

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.