sterigma

[ stuh-rig-muh ]

/ stəˈrɪg mə /

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noun, plural ste·rig·ma·ta

[stuh-rig-muh-tuh]. /stəˈrɪg mə tə/. Mycology.

a small stalk that bears a sporangium, a conidium, or especially a basidiospore.

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of sterigma

1865–70; <New Latin <Greek stḗrigma a support, equivalent to stērig-, base of stērízein to support + -ma noun suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM sterigma

ster·ig·mat·ic

[ster-ig-mat-ik, steer-], /ˌstɛr ɪgˈmæt ɪk, ˌstɪər-/, adjective

Words nearby sterigma

stereotypical, stereotypy, stereovision, steric, steric hindrance, sterigma, sterilant, sterile, sterility, sterilization, sterilize

How to use sterigma in a sentence

At the apex of each basidium a flask-shaped cell, "sterigma" (d), appears.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre
At free end of each sterigma is formed an oval body—a spore or "gonidium" (d), which, when ripe, is thrown off from the sterigma.
The Elements of Bacteriological Technique|John William Henry Eyre
D, Passage of a nucleus through the sterigma into the basidiospore.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sterigma

sterigma

/ (stəˈrɪɡmə) /

noun

biology a minute stalk bearing a spore or chain of spores in certain fungi

Word Origin for sterigma

C19: New Latin from Greek stērigma support, from stērizein to sustain

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