germ

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germ / jərm/ • n. 1. a microorganism, esp. one that causes disease.2. a portion of an organism capable of developing into a new one or part of one. Compare with germ cell. ∎  the embryo in a cereal grain or other plant seed. Compare with wheat germ. ∎  an initial stage from which something may develop: the germ of a brilliant idea.DERIVATIVES: germ·y adj. ( inf. , in sense 1).

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