spore
spore Lexical Profile
spore Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A minute, typically single-celled reproductive unit produced by fungi, non-flowering plants (such as ferns and mosses), and certain protozoa, capable of developing into a new individual without sexual fusion.
"A single mushroom can release billions of microscopic spores into the surrounding air."
A thick-walled, dormant, and highly resistant structure formed by certain bacteria in response to adverse environmental conditions.
"Certain bacterial spores can survive extreme heat and prolonged exposure to disinfectants."
• verb
To produce or release spores (of a fungus, non-flowering plant, or bacterium).
"The ferns in the greenhouse began to spore as the humidity levels rose in late summer."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'spore' with the homophone 'spoor' (the track, scent, or droppings left by a wild animal).
• Rhymes for spore
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-19th century via Modern Latin from Ancient Greek 'spora' (a sowing, seed), derived from the verb 'speirein' (to sow).