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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

  1. spermatogenesis,
  2. spermatogenous,
  3. spermatogonium,
  4. spermatoid,
  5. spermatolysis,
  6. spermatophyte,
  7. spermatopoietic,
  8. spermatorrhea,
  9. spermatorrhoea,
  10. spermatotoxic

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

/ (ˈspɜːmətəʊˌfɔː) /

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

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