Definition of pollen
1 : a mass of microspores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust
2 : a dusty bloom on the body of an insect
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Recent Examples of pollen from the Web
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Most apple varieties, produced by chance intermingling of pollen from neighboring trees on family farms, cannot be definitively identified by DNA, so the history is important.
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After all, what cloud computing company could have realized the secret of efficient data distribution lay in how honey bees gather pollen?
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Take a look at the tough words that knocked out some Ohioans: Riley Meese, 14, of New Philadelphia, was knocked out on the word sporomorph, a fossil pollen grain or spore.
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Instead, Tomaska's skillet of popcorn is dusted with anise seed and fennel pollen.
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Now, a new study reveals that the cockroach Moluchia brevipennis, native to central Chile's scrublands, feeds on flower pollen—and may even pollinate plants.
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Pollen update: The pollen report was incomplete due to rain.
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In May 2015, Elle featured Bacon’s daily diet, which included items like ho shou wu, silver needle tea, pearl, reishi, cordyceps, quinton shots, bee pollen and chaga.
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Is the story: Monsanto contaminates a crop, (by pollen?)
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pollen'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of pollen
New Latin pollin-, pollen, from Latin, fine flour
First Known Use: 1723
POLLEN Defined for English Language Learners
pollen
playDefinition of pollen for English Language Learners
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: the very fine usually yellow dust that is produced by a plant and that is carried to other plants of the same kind usually by wind or insects so that the plants can produce seeds
POLLEN Defined for Kids
pollen
playDefinition of pollen for Students
: the very tiny grains produced by the stamens of a flower or special sacs of a male cone that fertilize the seeds and usually appear as fine yellow dust
Medical Dictionary
pollen
playMedical Definition of pollen
: a mass of male spores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust
Learn More about pollen
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Spanish Central: Translation of pollen Nglish: Translation of pollen for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pollen for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pollen
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