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: a primitive usually unicellular often environmentally resistant dormant or reproductive body produced by plants, fungi, and some microorganisms and capable of development into a new individual either directly or after fusion with another spore
: spore having (such) a characteristic or origin
aeciospore
Examples of spore in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 8 Jan. 2025
Valley fever is caused by inhaling spores of coccidioides, a fungal pathogen that thrives in the drier and dustier regions of the state.
—
Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 7 Jan. 2025
Two different strains will not contribute equally to spore and stalks.
—
Quanta Magazine, 5 Nov. 2015
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Noun
For example, some brands boast that their mushroom extracts came from the fruiting bodies of the fungi, rather than harvesting less-mature spores.
—Verb
What if your cat tower could weigh your furry friend, monitor its health, and help keep their pesky dander spores out of your air?
—Word History
Etymology
Noun
New Latin spora seed, spore, from Greek, act of sowing, seed, from speirein to sow — more at sperm
Noun combining form
borrowed from New Latin -spora spore entry 1
Phrases Containing spore
Dictionary Entries Near spore
Cite this Entry
“Spore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spore. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
spore
1 of 2 noun
?spō(ə)r
?spȯ(ə)r
: a reproductive body that is produced by fungi and by some plants and microorganisms (as ferns and bacteria) and that usually consists of a single cell and is able to produce a new individual either by developing by itself or after fusion with another spore
spore
2 of 2 verb
spored; sporing
: to produce or reproduce by spores
Medical Definition
spore
1 of 2 noun
: a primitive usually unicellular often environmentally resistant dormant or reproductive body produced by plants, fungi, and some microorganisms and capable of developing into a new individual either directly or after fusion with another spore
More from Merriam-Webster on spore
Nglish: Translation of spore for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of spore for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spore
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