A germ is a very small organism that causes disease.
Chlorine is widely used to kill germs.
...a germ that destroyed hundreds of millions of lives.
Synonyms: microbe, virus, bug [informal], bacterium More Synonyms of germ
2. singular noun
The germ of something such as an idea is something which developed or might develop into that thing.
The germ of an idea took root in Rosemary's mind. [+ of]
This was the germ of a book.
Synonyms: beginning, root, seed, origin More Synonyms of germ
3. See also wheatgerm
More Synonyms of germ
germ in British English
(dʒɜːm)
noun
1.
a microorganism, esp one that produces disease in animals or plants
2. (often plural)
the rudimentary or initial form of something
the germs of revolution
3.
a simple structure, such as a fertilized egg, that is capable of developing into a complete organism
Word origin
C17: from French germe, from Latin germen sprig, bud, sprout, seed
germ in American English
(dʒɜrm)
noun
1.
the rudimentary form from which a new organism is developed; seed; bud
2.
any microscopic organism, esp. one of the bacteria, that can cause disease
3.
that from which something can develop or grow; basis
the germ of an idea
Word origin
ME germe, a bud, sprout < OFr < L germen, sprig, bud, germ, embryo < IE *gen-men (> Sans janiman-, birth, origin) < base *ĝen-: see genus
Examples of 'germ' in a sentence
germ
They found that tiny droplets which can carry flu and cold germs were formed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Where the germ of the idea came from is pretty much irrelevant.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One could say that either you "got" the idea of germs or you did not.
Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)
And the germ of an idea grows.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
These days germ warfare is just one more front in the battle for industrial supremacy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That's where the germ of the idea came from.
The Sun (2015)
Being clean also makes pragmatic sense, protecting us from germs and disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
European germs killed far more of the inhabitants than European gunpowder and steel.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
In tests it killed all known germs on contact and wiped out airborne bugs by 95 per cent.
The Sun (2008)
I had the germ of an idea.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It targets germ cell tumours which make up just three per cent of all childhood cancers but have doubled in 45 years.
The Sun (2015)
BRITAIN faces a growing threat from germ warfare terror attacks, an intelligence chief warns.
The Sun (2013)
This was the germ of the idea of the "Synod of Bishops".
Hebblethwaite, Peter Paul VI - The First Modern Pope (1993)
Will setting my washing machine Q to 30C kill germs in clothes?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are suffering from conditions that, for all the advances of medical science in understanding the germ theory of disease, are still little understood.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
germ
British English: germ /dʒɜːm/ NOUN
A germ is a very small organism that causes disease.
...cholera germs.
American English: germ
Arabic: جُرْثُومة
Brazilian Portuguese: germe
Chinese: 细菌
Croatian: mikrob
Czech: bacil
Danish: bakterie
Dutch: ziektekiem
European Spanish: germen
Finnish: bakteeri
French: microbe
German: Keim
Greek: μικρόβιο
Italian: germe
Japanese: 細菌
Korean: 병원균
Norwegian: bakterie
Polish: zarodek
European Portuguese: germe
Romanian: germene
Russian: микроб
Latin American Spanish: germen
Swedish: bacill
Thai: เชื้อโรค
Turkish: mikrop
Ukrainian: мікроб
Vietnamese: vi trùng
All related terms of 'germ'
germ cell
a sexual reproductive cell; gamete
germ-free
not carrying microorganisms , esp ones that produce disease in animals or plants
germ-like
resembling a germ
germ line
the lineage of cells culminating in the germ cells
germ tube
a tube produced by a germinating spore , such as the pollen tube produced by a pollen grain
germ-killer
any substance that kills microorganisms
germ layer
any of the three layers of cells formed during gastrulation
germ plasm
the reproductive cells of an organism, particularly that portion of the reproductive cells involved in heredity
germ theory
the theory that all infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms
wheat germ
the vitamin-rich embryo of the wheat kernel , which is largely removed before milling and is used in cereals , as a food supplement , etc
germ carrier
an organism carrying microorganisms , esp microorganisms that produce disease in animals or plants
germ warfare
Germ warfare is the use of germs in a war in order to cause disease in enemy troops , or to destroy crops that they might use as food .
Chinese translation of 'germ'
germ
(dʒəːm) (Bio)
n(c)
细(細)菌 (xìjūn) (种(種), zhǒng)
the germ of an idea一个(個)想法的萌芽 (yī gè xiǎngfǎ de méngyá)
1 (noun)
Definition
a tiny living thing, esp. one that causes disease
a germ that started an epidemic
Synonyms
microbe
The microbe that poisoned them had got into dental equipment.
virus
bug (informal)
There is a bug in the software.
bacterium
bacillus
microorganism
2 (noun)
Definition
the beginning from which something may develop
The germ of an idea took root in her mind.
Synonyms
beginning
root
We got to the root of the problem.
seed
His questions were meant to plant seeds of doubt in our minds.
origin
What is the origin of the word `honeymoon'?
spark
bud
embryo
The League of Nations was the embryo of the UN.
rudiment
3 (noun)
Synonyms
embryo
egg
a baby bird hatching from its egg
seed
a packet of cabbage seed
bud
The first buds appeared on the trees.
nucleus
sprout
spore
ovum
ovule
related words
related phobiasspermaphobiaspermatophobia
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bud
Definition
(of plants and some animals) to produce buds
The first buds appeared on the trees.
Synonyms
shoot,
branch,
sprout,
twig,
sprig,
offshoot,
scion
in the sense of bug
There is a bug in the software.
Synonyms
fault,
failing,
virus,
error,
defect,
flaw,
blemish,
imperfection,
glitch,
gremlin,
malware
in the sense of egg
Definition
a type of cell produced in the body of a female animal which can develop into a baby if fertilized by a male reproductive cell
a baby bird hatching from its egg
Synonyms
ovum,
gamete,
germ cell
Synonyms of 'germ'
germ
Explore 'germ' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of origin
Definition
the point, source, or event from which something develops
What is the origin of the word `honeymoon'?
Synonyms
root,
source,
basis,
beginnings,
base,
cause,
spring,
roots,
seed,
foundation,
nucleus,
germ,
provenance,
derivation,
wellspring,
fons et origo
in the sense of root
Definition
the essential part or nature of something
We got to the root of the problem.
Synonyms
source,
cause,
heart,
bottom,
beginnings,
base,
seat,
occasion,
seed,
foundation,
origin,
core,
fundamental,
essence,
nucleus,
starting point,
germ,
crux,
nub,
derivation,
fountainhead,
mainspring
in the sense of seed
Definition
the source, beginning, or origin of anything
His questions were meant to plant seeds of doubt in our minds.
Synonyms
beginning,
start,
potential (for),
suspicion,
germ,
genesis,
inkling
in the sense of seed
Definition
the mature fertilized grain of a plant, containing an embryo ready for germination