seminiferous

[ sem-uh-nif-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. Anatomy. conveying or containing semen.
2. Botany. bearing or producing seed.

seminiferous

/ ˌsɛmɪˈnɪfərəs /

adjective

1. containing, conveying, or producing semen

   the seminiferous tubules of the testes

2. (of plants) bearing or producing seeds

Word History and Origins

Origin of seminiferous¹

1685–95; < Latin sēmin- (stem of sēmen ) seed, semen + -i- + -ferous

Word History and Origins

Origin of seminiferous¹

C17: from Latin sēmin-, sēmen seed + connecting vowel + -ferous

Example Sentences

Zika-infected mice experience damage to the tubules that are lined with Sertoli cells, called seminiferous tubules.

From Scientific American

In Larix the carpellary scale may become leafy, and the seminiferous scale may disappear.

From Project Gutenberg

Sperm expelled from the epididymides in autumn matings are seemingly replaced by others from the seminiferous tubules; the epididymides become much smaller when their supply of sperm is nearly exhausted after spring mating.

From Project Gutenberg

The spermatozoa are formed in the walls of the convoluted seminiferous tubules.

From Project Gutenberg

It is important to draw attention to some structural features exhibited by certain cone-scales, in which there is no external sign indicative of the presence of a carpellary and a seminiferous scale.

From Project Gutenberg