GERM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does germ mean? 

• GERM (noun)
  The noun GERM has 3 senses:

1. anything that provides inspiration for later work

2. a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism

3. a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use

  Familiarity information: GERM used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GERM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Anything that provides inspiration for later work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

germ; seed; source

Hypernyms ("germ" is a kind of...):

inspiration (arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "germ"):

taproot (something that provides an important central source for growth or development)

muse (the source of an artist's inspiration)

Derivation:

germinal (containing seeds of later development)

germinate (work out)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("germ" is a kind of...):

anatomical structure; bodily structure; body structure; complex body part; structure (a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing and its construction and arrangement)

Derivation:

germinate (produce buds, branches, or germinate)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

bug; germ; microbe

Hypernyms ("germ" is a kind of...):

micro-organism; microorganism (any organism of microscopic size)

Derivation:

germy (full of germs or pathological microorganisms)

 Context examples 

Representative examples include uterine corpus leiomyoma, endocervical polyp, and benign ovarian germ cell tumor.

(Benign Female Reproductive System Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

A germ cell tumor without metastatic potential.

(Benign Germ Cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

A non-metastasizing germ cell tumor that arises from the ovary.

(Benign Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat ovarian and testicular germ cell tumors.

(BEP, NCI Dictionary)

The inner of the three germ layers of the embryo.

(Murine Endoderm, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

This allele, which encodes nanos homolog 3 protein, plays a role in maintaining germ cells in an undifferentiated state.

(NANOS3 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This gene is involved in the regulation of gene expression and acts as an oncogene in non-small cell lung carcinoma and testicular germ cell tumors.

(MIR372 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

A malignant germ cell tumor that arises from the testis and has spread to another anatomic site.

(Metastatic Malignant Testicular Germ Cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

These cells are part of your immune system, which helps protect the body from germs and other harmful substances.

(Multiple Myeloma, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

Normally, your immune system fights germs.

(Allergy, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)