germ

noun

1. 1

   The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote. The embryo of a seed, especially of a seed used as a cereal or grain. See Wikipedia article on cereal germ.

2. 2

   The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote. The small mass of cells from which a part of an organism develops, or a macroscopic but immature form of that part; a bud.

   surgical removal of germs of wisdom teeth

3. 3

   A pathogen: a pathogenic microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus.

   'This again,' said the Bacteriologist, slipping a glass slide under the microscope, 'is a preparation of the celebrated Bacillus of cholera - the cholera germ.'

4. 4

   figurativeThe origin or earliest version of an idea or project.

   the germ of civil liberty

   Now all his ponderings, however excursive, wheeled round Isabel as their center; and back to her they came again from every excursion; and again derived some new, small germs for wonderment.

   What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth? - the dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires.

5. 5

   An equivalence class that includes a specified function defined in an open neighborhood.

verb

1. 1

   To germinate.

   Thus tempted, the lust to avenge me / Germed inly and grew.

2. 2

   slangTo grow, as if parasitic.

   I’m addicted, want to germ inside your love

Forms

plural

germs

past tense

germed

past participle

germed

present participle

germing

third person singular

germs