SPERMATOZOID
\spˈɜːmɐtˌɒzɔ͡ɪd], \spˈɜːmɐtˌɒzɔɪd], \s_p_ˈɜː_m_ɐ_t_ˌɒ_z_ɔɪ_d]\
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[Greek] An antherozoid; a free-swimming male gamete (bot.).
By J.H. Kenneth
By Willam Alexander Newman Dorland
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Syn.: sperm cell, spermatic cell. The fertilizing element of the semen; the male reproductive cell. In man and most of the higher animals s.'s appear in shape and action like minute tadpoles. The head represents the nucleus of the cell, and a delicate layer of protoplasm enveloping the head,, together with the tail, represents the cell body. In some cases there is seen a thickening in the tail at its junction with the head, and also in some cases the tail and middle piece are bordered by a kind of frill. [Gr.]
By Smith Ely Jelliffe
Word of the day
basidiomycota
- comprises fungi bearing the spores on basidium: Gasteromycetes (puffballs); Tiliomycetes (comprising orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts)); Hymenomycetes (mushrooms; toadstools; agarics; bracket fungi); in some classification systems considered a division of kingdom comprises fungi bearing spores on a basidium; includes Gasteromycetes (puffballs) Tiliomycetes comprising the orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts) Hymenomycetes (mushrooms, toadstools, agarics bracket fungi).