spermatophore

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

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

Origin of spermatophore

1
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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for spermatophore

spermatophore

/ (ˈspɜːmətəʊˌfɔː) /


noun
  1. 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-mătə-fôr′ ]


  1. 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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.