germ

[ jurm ]

noun

1. a microorganism, especially when disease-producing; microbe.
2. a bud, offshoot, or seed.
3. the rudiment of a living organism; an embryo in its early stages.
4. the initial stage in development or evolution, as a germ cell or ancestral form.

   Synonyms: seed, rudiment, bud, root, spark

5. something that serves as a source or initial stage for subsequent development:

   the germ of an idea.

adjective

1. Pathology. of, relating to, or caused by disease-producing germs.

germ

/ dʒɜːm /

noun

1. a microorganism, esp one that produces disease in animals or plants
2. often plural the rudimentary or initial form of something

   the germs of revolution

3. a simple structure, such as a fertilized egg, that is capable of developing into a complete organism

germ

/ jûrm /

1. A microscopic organism or agent, especially one that is pathogenic, such as a bacterium or virus.

Other Words From

• germless adjective
• germlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of germ¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French germe < Latin germen shoot, sprout, by dissimilation from *genmen, equivalent to gen- ( genitor, genus ) + -men resultative noun suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of germ¹

C17: from French germe, from Latin germen sprig, bud, sprout, seed

Usage

The terms germ and microbe have been used to refer to invisible agents of disease since the nineteenth century, when scientists introduced the germ theory of disease, the idea that infections and contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms. Microbe, a shortening and alteration of microorganism , comes from the Greek prefix mikro–, “small,” and the word bios, “life.” Scientists no longer use the terms germ and microbe very much. Today they can usually identify the specific agents of disease, such as individual species of bacteria or viruses. To refer generally to agents of disease, they use the term pathogen, from the Greek pathos, “suffering,” and the suffix –gen, “producer.” They use microorganism to refer to any unicellular organism, whether disease-causing or not.

Example Sentences

And there is a germ of truth and some real value to what they offer.

From Slate

“Many customers come here not to kill this germ or kill this virus, but it’s more about boosting the general body function.”

From Los Angeles Times

Any fruits and veggies you aren't going to eat immediately should be blotted with a dry paper towel or put in a salad spinner to remove moisture and reduce germ growth.

From Salon

Honestly, I’m not here to decide whether the germ of the idea originated with Segerblom or Baker.

From Slate

From this the germ an idea was born, which has since grown into a business called Catch.

From BBC

Related Words

• antibody
• bacterium
• bug
• disease
• microbe
• microorganism
• pathogen
• virus