germ cell

noun

: a gamete (such as an egg or sperm cell) or one of its antecedent cells

Examples of germ cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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More specifically, Miller had a germ cell tumor of her ovary. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Indeed, to get a better idea of how future pregnancies and new generations born to humans beyond Earth will be affected, scientists need to examine how well our reproductive germ cells and stem cells respond to potentially harmful factors, like radiation and microgravity. Jessica Rendall, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025 Moreover, the findings suggest that cryopreserved germ cells can stay fertile for at least six months, a key finding for future long-duration space missions. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025 Colossal scientists will extract primordial germ cells—or cells that develop into egg and sperm—from a tinamou or emu embryo and rewrite their genome to match key features of the moa. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for germ cell

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of germ cell was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Germ cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germ%20cell. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

germ cell

noun
: an egg or sperm cell or one of the cells from which they arise

Medical Definition

germ cell

noun
: an egg or sperm cell or one of their antecedent cells

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