germ

Etymology

From Middle French germe, from Latin germen (“bud, seed, embryo”).

Pronunciation

• (UK), IPA^(key): /d͡ʒəːm/
• (US) enPR: jûrm, IPA^(key): /d͡ʒɝm/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)m

Noun

germ (plural germs)

1. (biology) The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud or spore.
2. A pathogenic microorganism.
   • 1895, H. G. Wells, The Stolen Bacillus

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

3. The embryo of a seed, especially of a seed used as a cereal or grain. See Wikipedia article on cereal germ.
4. (figuratively) The origin of an idea or project.

   the germ of civil liberty

5. (mathematics) An equivalence class that includes a specified function defined in an open neighborhood.

Verb

germ (third-person singular simple present germs, present participle germing, simple past and past participle germed)

1. To germinate.
   • Sir Walter Scott

     O for a withering curse to blast the germing of their wicked machinations.

   • Thomas Hardy

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

2. (slang) To grow, as if parasitic.
   • "I’m addicted, want to germ inside your love" - Just Can't Get Enough by the Black Eyed Peas

Etymology

Related to Persian گرم‎ (garm), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer-. Cognate with English warm.

Adjective

germ (comparative germtir, superlative germtirîn)

1. warm

Etymology

Related to Persian گرم‎ (garm).

Adjective

germ

1. warm