germ

plural germs

1. The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote.
   1. biologyThe embryo of a seed, especially of a seed used as a cereal or grain. See Wikipedia article on cereal germ.
   2. biologyThe small mass of cells from which a part of an organism develops, or a macroscopic but immature form of that part; a bud.

      surgical removal of germs of wisdom teeth

2. A pathogen: a pathogenic microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus.

   'This again,' said the Bacteriologist, slipping a glass slide under the microscope, 'is a preparation of the celebrated Bacillus of cholera - the cholera germ.'

   1895, H. G. Wells, The Stolen Bacillus

3. figurativelyThe origin or earliest version of an idea or project.

   the germ of civil liberty

   2 more examples

   Now all his ponderings, however excursive, wheeled round Isabel as their center; and back to her they came again from every excursion; and again derived some new, small germs for wonderment.

   1852, Herman Melville, Pierre; or The Ambiguities

   What greatness had not floated on the ebb of that river into the mystery of an unknown earth? - the dreams of men, the seed of commonwealths, the germs of empires.

   1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 194

4. mathematicsAn equivalence class that includes a specified function defined in an open neighborhood.

present singular third person germs · participle present germing · participle past germed · past germed

1. To germinate.

   Thus tempted, the lust to avenge me / Germed inly and grew.

   1909, Thomas Hardy, The Flirt's Tragedy

2. slangTo grow, as if parasitic.

   I’m addicted, want to germ inside your love

   2011, Black Eyed Peas, Just Can't Get Enough

plural Germs

1. UKderogatoryslanga German person.