spore

verb

spored; sporing

intransitive verb

: to produce or reproduce by spores

Examples of spore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rust spores overwinter in leaf debris and infect new foliage in spring with as little as two to four hours of moisture. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026 The spongy underside of the cap has pores—rather than gills as seen in Agaricales mushrooms such as shiitake and portobello—which are the openings to tubes through which spores exit the mushroom. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026 What if your cat tower could weigh your furry friend, monitor its health, and help keep their pesky dander spores out of your air? Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025 Two different strains will not contribute equally to spore and stalks. Quanta Magazine, 5 Nov. 2015 See All Example Sentences for spore

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spore was in 1866

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spore. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

spore

1 of 2 noun
ˈspō(ə)r How to pronounce spore (audio)
ˈspȯ(ə)r
: a reproductive body that is produced by fungi and by some plants and microorganisms (as ferns and bacteria) and that usually consists of a single cell and is able to produce a new individual either by developing by itself or after fusion with another spore
spored
ˈspō(ə)rd How to pronounce spore (audio)
ˈspȯ(ə)rd
adjective

spore

2 of 2 verb
spored; sporing
: to produce or reproduce by spores

Medical Definition

spore

1 of 2 noun
: a primitive usually unicellular often environmentally resistant dormant or reproductive body produced by plants, fungi, and some microorganisms and capable of developing into a new individual either directly or after fusion with another spore

spore

2 of 2 intransitive verb
spored; sporing
: to produce or reproduce by spores

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