English Lexicon

Germ

/dʒɜːrm/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A microorganism, especially one that causes disease.

    "The doctor explained how germs can spread through the air and contaminate surfaces."
  2. 2

    A seed or bud; a source or origin of something.

    "The idea was just a germ of a thought that developed into a full-fledged project."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'germ' originates from the Latin 'germen', meaning 'sprout' or 'bud', which evolved in Middle English to refer to microorganisms. Over time, its meaning expanded to include any pathogenic organism, reflecting the historical understanding of disease causation.

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