germ /dʒɜːm $ dʒɜːrm/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: germe , from Latin germen 'seed, bud, germ' , from gignere ; ⇨ ↑ genital ]
1 . a very small living thing that can make you ill ⇨ ↑ bacteria :
Put disinfectant down the toilet to kill any germs.
2 . the germ of an idea/theory/feeling etc the early stage of an idea, feeling etc that may develop into something bigger and more important:
The germ of a story began to form in his mind.
3 . technical the part of a plant or animal that can develop into a new plant or animal:
germ cells containing DNA
⇨ ↑ wheatgerm , ↑ germ warfare