heterogamete

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noun

Either of a pair of conjugating gametes that differ in structure or behaviour, such as the spermatozoon and the ovum.

Similar
anisogamete
OriginEnglish gamete ← Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros) ← Proto-Hellenic *hə́teros →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounheterogamete (plural heterogametes)

plural heterogametes

  1. Either of a pair of conjugating gametes that differ in structure or behaviour, such as the spermatozoon and the ovum.

    Synonyms: anisogamete

Synonyms & antonyms

nounEither of a pair of conjugating gametes that differ in structure or behaviour, such as the spermatozoon and the ovum.

Similar
anisogamete

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sem-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sḿ̥teros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*hə́teros
  4. Ancient Greekἕτερος (héteros)
  5. Englishhetero-
  6. Englishgamete
  7. Englishheterogamete

From hetero- + gamete.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish anizogameta, heterogameta
  • anizogametaTranslations
  • heterogametaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

heterogamete. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterogamete

MLA

“heterogamete.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterogamete. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heterogamete,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heterogamete.

Source: heterogamete on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.