Spore - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Spore :  (noun)

1: a small usually single-celled reproductive body produced by many plants and some protozoans and that develops into a new individual; "a sexual spore is formed after the fusion of gametes"

Based on WordNet 2.0

Spore : \Spore\, n. [Gr. ? a sowing, seed, from ? to sow. Cf. Sperm.] 1. (Bot.) (a) One of the minute grains in flowerless plants, which are analogous to seeds, as serving to reproduce the species.

Note: Spores are produced differently in the different classes of cryptogamous plants, and as regards their nature are often so unlike that they have only their minuteness in common. The peculiar spores of diatoms (called auxospores) increase in size, and at length acquire a siliceous coating, thus becoming new diatoms of full size. Compare Macrospore, Microspore, O["o]spore, Restingspore, Sph[ae]rospore, Swarmspore, Tetraspore, Zo["o]spore, and Zygospore. (b) An embryo sac or embryonal vesicle in the ovules of flowering plants.

2. (Biol.) (a) A minute grain or germ; a small, round or ovoid body, formed in certain organisms, and by germination giving rise to a new organism; as, the reproductive spores of bacteria, etc. (b) One of the parts formed by fission in certain Protozoa. See Spore formation, belw.

Spore formation. (a) (Biol) A mode of reproduction resembling multitude fission, common among Protozoa, in which the organism breaks up into a number of pieces, or spores, each of which eventually develops into an organism like the parent form. --Balfour. (b) The formation of reproductive cells or spores, as in the growth of bacilli.

Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)

Example Usage of Spore

audreyfong: spent 6 hrs @ the Spore Museum & is thrilled that her kids enjoyed it so much!
msgraciaroselle: @shyelalestari hai sarlingg aku ud d Spore lohh.. eheheheee
deadey: @tiktikaa taun baruan kyknya gue bakalan nonton dr tipi aje dah hahahah. Yaudah have fun ya tik di Spore, jgn lupa oleh2 + bule-nya hihik ;)
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