germ

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun anything that provides inspiration for later work
  2. noun a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism
  3. noun a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use

Etymology

From Middle French germe, from Latin germen (“bud, seed, embryo”). Doublet of germen.

In classic literature

Synonyms

source, seed

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