dʒə:m n. 1 a
micro-organism,
esp.
one which causes
disease. 2 a a
portion of an
organism capable of developing
into a
new one;
the rudiment of an
animal or
plant. b an
embryo of a
seed (wheat germ). 3 an
original idea etc.
from which
something may develop; an
elementary principle. øgerm-cell 1 a
cell containing
half the
number of chromosomes of a
somatic cell
and able to
unite with one from the
opposite sex to
form a new
individual; a
gamete. 2
any embryonic cell with the
potential of developing into a gamete. germ
warfare the
systematic spreading of micro-organisms to
cause disease in an
enemy population. in germ
not yet developed. øøgermy adj. [F germe f. L germen germinis sprout]