spermatheca
noun
sper·ma·the·ca
ˌspər-mə-ˈthē-kə 
plural spermathecae
ˌspər-mə-ˈthē-ˌsē. -ˌkē
: a sac for sperm storage in the female reproductive tract of various lower animals and especially insects
Examples of spermatheca in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Unlike mammals, a female spider has a sac in its reproductive tract called the spermatheca that holds sperm and prevents it from meeting an egg.
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Megan Marples, CNN, 26 Apr. 2022
Megan Marples, CNN, 26 Apr. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spermatheca.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin
First Known Use
1826, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near spermatheca
Cite this Entry
“Spermatheca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spermatheca. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on spermatheca
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spermatheca
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