sporulate

American  

[spawr-yuh-leyt, spor-] / ˈspɔr yəˌleɪt, ˈspɒr- /

verb (used without object)

Biology.

sporulated, sporulating

1. to produce spores.

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sporulate British  

/ ˈspɒrjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to produce spores, esp by multiple fission

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Other Word Forms

• sporulation noun

Etymology

Origin of sporulate

First recorded in 1880–85; sporule + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

They might emerge and sporulate, as the kits had done, sending microscopic sentinels zooming around the room.

From New York Times • Feb. 7, 2021

Prior to the assay, all species were subjected to ethanol shock and were cultured anaerobically to determine their ability to sporulate.

From Nature • May 3, 2016

Piorkowski's Yoghourt bacillus is similar in form to Bacillus subtilis, but does not sporulate, nor does it liquefy gelatine.

From The Bacillus of Long Life a manual of the preparation and souring of milk for dietary purposes, together with and historical account of the use of fermente by Douglas, Loudon