gamete

noun

gam·ete | \ ˈga-ˌmēt also gə-ˈmēt

Definition of gamete

: a mature male or female germ cell usually possessing a haploid chromosome set and capable of initiating formation of a new diploid individual by fusion with a gamete of the opposite sex

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Other Words from gamete

gametic \ gə-ˈme-tik

, -ˈmē-

\ adjective

gametically \ gə-ˈme-ti-k(ə-)lē

, -ˈmē- \ adverb

Examples of gamete in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a little explosion of light as both dump their gametes in the water. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "These Tiny Fireworms Light up to Make Love," 11 Aug. 2018 In December 2017, Surani announced a crucial milestone concerning the eight-week cycle, after which germ cells begin the process of transforming into gametes. — Jason Pontin, WIRED, "Science Is Getting Us Closer to the End of Infertility," 27 Mar. 2018 Four people can pair up, create two embryos and combine gametes from those embryos to make a baby that has four parents. — William Saletan, WSJ, "‘She Has Her Mother’s Laugh’ Review: Biology’s Strange New World," 28 June 2018 Ford says, explaining that the animals procreate by releasing their gametes into the sea and trusting that sperm and eggs will commingle. — Degen Pener, Los Angeles Magazine, "What’s Being Done to Revive L.A.’s Decimated Abalone Population," 22 June 2018 Once adult human cells can be made into gametes, editing the stem cells will be relatively easy. — Jason Pontin, WIRED, "Science Is Getting Us Closer to the End of Infertility," 27 Mar. 2018 Embryology, which involves the development of gametes, fertilization and the growth of embryos, is not covered by CLIA. — Ginger Christ, cleveland.com, "Florida health system furthers affiliation with Cleveland Clinic," 22 Mar. 2018 Embryology, which involves the development of gametes, fertilization and the growth of embryos, is not covered by CLIA. — Ginger Christ, cleveland.com, "Florida health system furthers affiliation with Cleveland Clinic," 22 Mar. 2018 Embryology, which involves the development of gametes, fertilization and the growth of embryos, is not covered by CLIA. — Ginger Christ, cleveland.com, "Florida health system furthers affiliation with Cleveland Clinic," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gamete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for gamete

borrowed from German Gamet, borrowed from Greek gamétēs "husband" or gametḗ "wife," from game-, stem of gameîn "to marry" + -tēs, -tē, agent suffixes — more at -gamous

Note: Gamet was introduced by the Polish-German biologist Eduard Strasburger (1844-1912) in an article cowritten with the botanist Anton de Bary, "Acetabularia mediterranea" (Botanische Zeitung, 35. Jahrgang, No. 47, 23. November 1877), pp. 745-56.

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Dictionary Entries near gamete

gamete intrafallopian transfer

game theory

gametic number

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Time Traveler for gamete

The first known use of gamete was in 1878

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More Definitions for gamete

gamete

noun

English Language Learners Definition of gamete

technical : one of the cells that join together to begin making a person or other creature

See the full definition for gamete in the English Language Learners Dictionary

gamete

noun

ga·mete | \ ˈgam-ˌēt also gə-ˈmēt\

Medical Definition of gamete

: a mature male or female germ cell usually possessing a haploid chromosome set and capable of initiating formation of a new diploid individual by fusion with a gamete of the opposite sex

— called also sex cell