gamete

[ gam-eet, guh-meet ]

noun

, Biology.

1. a mature sexual reproductive cell, as a sperm or egg, that unites with another cell to form a new organism.

gamete

/ ɡəˈmɛtɪk; ˈɡæmiːt; ɡəˈmiːt /

noun

1. a haploid germ cell, such as a spermatozoon or ovum, that fuses with another germ cell during fertilization

gamete

/ găm′ēt′ /

1. A cell whose nucleus unites with that of another cell to form a new organism. A gamete contains only a single (haploid) set of chromosomes. Animal egg and sperm cells, the nuclei carried in grains of pollen, and egg cells in plant ovules are all gametes.
2. Also called germ cell reproductive cell, sex cell
3. See Note at mitosis

gamete

1. A reproductive cell having a single set of chromosomes , especially a mature sperm or egg .

Derived Forms

• gaˈmetal, adjective

Other Words From

• ga·met·ic [g, uh, -, met, -ik], ga·me·tal [g, uh, -, meet, -l], adjective
• ga·meti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gamete¹

1885–90; < New Latin gameta < Greek gamet- (stem of gametḗ wife, gamétēs husband), derivative of gameîn to marry

Word History and Origins

Origin of gamete¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek gametē wife, from gamos marriage

Example Sentences

Helen Gibson, founder of Surrogacy Concern, a UK group which campaigns on issues relating to surrogacy and gamete donation said the organisation did not support "any payment for gametes".

From BBC

In the process of plant reproduction, when a pollen grain that transports male gametes lands on the stigma of another flower, it initiates the formation of a pollen tube.

From Science Daily

This means that the male gametes, which are located at the tip of the pollen tube, cannot fuse with the plant's egg cells.

From Science Daily

But as they age, hermaphrodites continue producing eggs and cease producing sperm, leaving them with gametes they cannot self-fertilize.

From Science Daily

If it were possible to bypass the reductional division and fertilization of female gametes, the seeds produced would be genetically identical to the mother plant.

From Science Daily