microspore

M3I1C3R1O1S1P3O1R1E1

noun

The smaller spore of a heterosporous plant, typically producing a male gametophyte.

OriginEnglish spore ← Ancient Greek μῑκρο- (mīkro-) ← Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.? →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounmicrospore (plural microspores)

plural microspores

  1. biologyThe smaller spore of a heterosporous plant, typically producing a male gametophyte.
  2. biologyOne of the numerous tiny spore-like elements produced through the encystment and subdivision of many monads.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*mey-der.?
  2. Ancient Greekμῑκρός (mīkrós)
  3. Ancient Greekμῑκρο- (mīkro-)
  4. Englishmicro-
  5. Englishspore
  6. Englishmicrospore

From micro- + spore.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish pikkuitiö
  • pikkuitiösmall spore
Irish micreaspór
  • micreaspórsmall spore
Italian microspora
  • microsporasmall spore

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

prosomeric
Cite this entry
APA

microspore. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microspore

MLA

“microspore.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microspore. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “microspore,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microspore.

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