pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpä-lən 

1

: a mass of microspores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust

2

: a dusty bloom on the body of an insect

Examples of pollen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The nutrient and energy-rich pollen packets are just sitting there for the taking and there are plenty of insects that are happy to oblige and spread a little pollen along the way. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 10 May 2024

Quartz’s Gabriela Riccardi is obsessed with pollen, and wrote about the price lots of humans pay for nature’s bounty. —Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 8 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin pollin-, pollen, from Latin, fine flour

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pollen

• pollen basket
• pollen count
• pollen grain
• pollen mother cell
• pollen sac
• pollen tube

Kids Definition

pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpäl-ən 

: a mass of tiny particles in the anthers of a flower that fertilize the seeds and usually appear as fine yellow dust

Medical Definition

pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpäl-ən 

: a mass of male spores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust