gamete

noun

gam·​ete ˈga-ˌmēt 

also

gə-ˈmēt 

: a mature male or female germ cell usually possessing a haploid chromosome set and capable of initiating formation of a new diploid individual by fusion with a gamete of the opposite sex

gametic

gə-ˈme-tik  -ˈmē- 

adjective

gametically

gə-ˈme-ti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈmē-

adverb

Examples of gamete in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the other hand, some donors update gamete providers on their health status but later learn that recipient families were never contacted, according to Rupnow. —Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024

At the time of ovulation, estrogens increase the motility of the oviduct on the left side which results in a negative pressure in the tube and oocyte and sperms are picked-up into the tube with the help of this vacuum effect, taking both gametes to the fertilization site in the oviduct. —Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019

Early plants, for example, still needed to let their gametes swim to each other in standing water. —Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

If Fisch’s data are any indication, New York men produce more of the wiggly gametes than most. —Mary Roach, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Gamet, borrowed from Greek gamétēs "husband" or gametḗ "wife," from game-, stem of gameîn "to marry" + -tēs, -tē, agent suffixes — more at -gamous

Note: Gamet was introduced by the Polish-German biologist Eduard Strasburger (1844-1912) in an article cowritten with the botanist Anton de Bary, "Acetabularia mediterranea" (Botanische Zeitung, 35. Jahrgang, No. 47, 23. November 1877), pp. 745-56.

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gamete

• gamete intrafallopian transfer

Kids Definition

gamete

noun

ga·​mete

gə-ˈmēt,

ˈgam-ˌēt

: a mature sex cell that usually has half of the normal number of chromosomes and is capable of uniting with a gamete of the opposite sex to begin the formation of a new individual

gametic

gə-ˈmet-ik

adjective

gametically

-ˈmet-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

gamete

noun

ga·​mete

ˈgam-ˌēt also gə-ˈmēt

: a mature male or female germ cell usually possessing a haploid chromosome set and capable of initiating formation of a new diploid individual by fusion with a gamete of the opposite sex

called also sex cell

gametic

gə-ˈmet-ik  -ˈmēt- 

adjective

gametically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb