Meanings
nounspermatophore (plural spermatophores)
plural spermatophores
- biologyA spermospore.
- biologyA capsule or pocket enclosing a number of spermatozoa, found in many annelids, brachiopods, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
The spermatophores begin to ejaculate immediately after leaving the penis and the whole process is completed in a very few seconds. Pulling the filament attached to the ejaculatory end of a spermatophore is all that is needed to start its ejaculation.
1910 June 20, Gilman A. Drew, “Sexual Activities of the Squid, Loligo pealii (Les.). I. Copulation, Egg-laying and Fertilization”, in Journal of Morphology, volume 22, number 2, Philadelphia, Pa.: Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, published 1911, page 334
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Translations
Catalan espermatòfor
- espermatòforcapsule
Finnish siittiökotelo, spermatofori
- siittiökotelocapsule
- spermatoforicapsule
Cite this entry
APA
spermatophore. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spermatophore
MLA
“spermatophore.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spermatophore. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spermatophore,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spermatophore.
Source: spermatophore on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.