plural germs
1
biology
: a very small living thing that causes disease
the germ that causes tuberculosis
2
a
: the origin or basis of something
the germ of an idea
b
: a very small amount of something
a germ of truth
3
biology
: something that can grow to become a whole animal, plant, etc., or one of its parts
a germ cell
the germ layers of an embryo
Cite this Entry
“Germ.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/germ. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
