megaspore

noun

mega·​spore ˈme-gə-ˌspȯr How to pronounce megaspore (audio)
: a spore in heterosporous plants giving rise to female gametophytes and usually larger than a microspore
megasporic adjective

Examples of megaspore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The soil samples contained fragments of willow and wood, as well as insect parts, spike moss megaspores, fungi and poppy seeds, Halley Mastro, a graduate research assistant at the University of Vermont and co-author of the paper, told ABC News. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2024 Other fossilized finds include a pinecone-like structure with megaspores and some fossilized tree trunks used to estimate the height of the trees, Wang noted. Fox News, 9 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

mega- + -spore

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of megaspore was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near megaspore

Cite this Entry

“Megaspore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/megaspore. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

megaspore

noun
mega·​spore ˈmeg-ə-ˌspō(ə)r How to pronounce megaspore (audio)
-ˌspȯ(ə)r
: a plant spore that produces a female gametophyte

Medical Definition

megaspore

noun
1
: a spore in heterosporous plants that gives rise to female gametophytes and is generally larger than a microspore
2
megasporic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on megaspore

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!