germ

1. A microbe; a microorganism. 2. A primordium; the earliest trace of a structure within an embryo. [L. germen, sprout, bud, g.]

- dental g. SYN: tooth g..

- enamel g. the enamel organ of a developing tooth; one of a series of knoblike projections from the dental lamina, later becoming bell-shaped and receiving in its hollow the dental papilla.

- reserve tooth g. enamel organ and papilla of a permanent tooth.

- tooth g. the enamel organ and dentin papilla, constituting the developing tooth. SYN: dental g..

- wheat g. the embryo of wheat; contains thiamine, riboflavin, and other vitamins.

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germ 'jərm n

1) a small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of its parts

2) MICROORGANISM esp a microorganism causing disease

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n.

any microorganism, especially one that causes disease. See also infection.

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(jurm) [L. germen] 1. a pathogenic microorganism. 2. living substance capable of developing into an organ, part, or organism as a whole; a primordium.