spore

1 of 3

noun

ˈspȯr 

: a primitive usually unicellular often environmentally resistant dormant or reproductive body produced by plants, fungi, and some microorganisms and capable of development into a new individual either directly or after fusion with another spore

spored

ˈspȯrd 

adjective

spore

2 of 3

verb

spored; sporing

intransitive verb

: to produce or reproduce by spores

-spore

3 of 3

noun combining form

: spore having (such) a characteristic or origin

aeciospore

Examples of spore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mold spores—reproductive cells that act like seeds—travel through the air both outdoors and indoors. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 16 Oct. 2024

Paleontologists have previously documented spikes in fungal spores from the time period just after impact, which would have provided ants plenty of fodder to farm. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024

Verb

Two different strains will not contribute equally to spore and stalks. —Quanta Magazine, 5 Nov. 2015

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin spora seed, spore, from Greek, act of sowing, seed, from speirein to sow — more at sperm

Noun combining form

borrowed from New Latin -spora spore entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1866, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spore

• milky spore disease
• spore case
• swarm spore

Kids Definition

spore

1 of 2 noun

ˈspō(ə)r 

ˈspȯ(ə)r

: a reproductive body that is produced by fungi and by some plants and microorganisms (as ferns and bacteria) and that usually consists of a single cell and is able to produce a new individual either by developing by itself or after fusion with another spore

spored

ˈspō(ə)rd 

ˈspȯ(ə)rd

adjective

spore

2 of 2 verb

spored; sporing

: to produce or reproduce by spores

Medical Definition

spore

1 of 2 noun

ˈspō(ə)r, ˈspȯ(ə)r 

: a primitive usually unicellular often environmentally resistant dormant or reproductive body produced by plants, fungi, and some microorganisms and capable of developing into a new individual either directly or after fusion with another spore

spore

2 of 2 intransitive verb

spored; sporing

: to produce or reproduce by spores