spermatozoon

American  

[spur-mat-uh-zoh-uhn, -on, spur-muh-tuh-] / spɜrˌmæt əˈzoʊ ən, -ɒn, ˌspɜr mə tə- /

noun

Cell Biology.

spermatozoa plural

1. one of the minute, usually actively motile gametes in semen, which serve to fertilize the ovum; a mature male reproductive cell.

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spermatozoon British  

/ ˌspɜːmətəʊˈzəʊɒn /

noun

1. Also called: sperm.   zoosperm.  any of the male reproductive cells released in the semen during ejaculation, consisting of a flattened egg-shaped head, a long neck, and a whiplike tail by which it moves to fertilize the female ovum

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spermatozoon Scientific  

/ spər-măt′ə-zō′ŏn′ /

spermatozoa plural

1. A sperm cell produced in the testis of an animal.

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Other Word Forms

• spermatozoal
  adjective
• spermatozoan
  adjective
• spermatozoic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spermatozoon

From New Latin, dating back to 1830–40; see origin at spermato-, -zoon

Example Sentences

The Oklahoma measure defines fertilisation as the "fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum".

From BBC • May 19, 2022

He objects to the idea that the origin of sex differences is to be found in differences in the male cells only, and claims that both the spermatozoon and the ovum have activating " microcellules."

From Time Magazine Archive

If a y-chromosome spermatozoon happens to penetrate the female ovum, the get is a boy; if an x-chromosome, it is a girl.

From Time Magazine Archive

Normally the male spermatozoon is what determines the sex of the offspring.

From Time Magazine Archive

The zygote resulting from the fertilisation of an ovum fg by a spermatozoon fG is heterozygous for G, but does not contain F, and therefore is a male grossulariata.

From Mendelism Third Edition by Punnett, Reginald Crundall