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   germ

   /jərm/

   noun

   • 1. a microorganism, especially one which causes disease. Similar microbemicroorganismbacillusbacteriumvirusinformal:bug
   • 2. a portion of an organism capable of developing into a new one or part of one.
   • ▪ the embryo in a cereal grain or other plant seed. Similar embryobudnucleusseedsporeeggovumtechnical:ovule
   • ▪ an initial stage from which something may develop: "the germ of a brilliant idea" Similar startbeginning(s)commencementstarting pointgenesisinceptionseedembryobudrootrudimentoriginsourcefountainpotential (for)corenucleusheartkernelnubessencefons et origoliterary:fountainheadwellspringfount

   Word Origin late Middle English (in germ (sense 2)): via Old French from Latin germen ‘seed, sprout’. germ (sense 1) dates from the late 19th century.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • G

     2

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • M

     3

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