progamete

[ proh-gam-eet, proh-guh-meet ]

noun

, Biology.

1. a cell that is the precursor of one ovum or many spermatozoa; a spermatocyte or oocyte.

Word History and Origins

Origin of progamete¹

First recorded in 1890–95; pro- ² + gamete

Example Sentences

The ocyte (progamete) gives rise by division to the ovum or true gamete, the nucleus of which is called the female pronucleus.

From Project Gutenberg