gamete

noun gam·ete \ ˈga-ˌmēt also gə-ˈmēt \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

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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gametic

play \gə-ˈme-tik, -ˈmē-\ adjective

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gametically

play \gə-ˈme-ti-k(ə-)lē, -ˈmē-\ adverb

See gamete defined for English-language learners

See gamete defined for kids

Recent Examples of gamete from the Web

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
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.

Origin and Etymology of 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.

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1878

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Cell Biology Terms

cytology, vacuole, zygote

GAMETE Defined for English Language Learners

gamete

noun

Definition of gamete for English Language Learners

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

Medical 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

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