ˈspərm, -pə̄m, -pəim noun
( plural sperm or sperms )
Etymology: Middle English sperme, from Middle French esperme, from Late Latin spermat-, sperma, from Greek; akin to Greek speirein to sow — more at sprout
1.
a. : the male fecundating fluid : semen
b. : a male gamete:
(1) : spermatozoon
(2) : spermatozoid
(3) : a sperm nucleus of an angiosperm
2. archaic : the seed, germ, or originative matter from which something develops
3.
a. : sperm whale
b. : a product of the sperm whale (as spermaceti or sperm oil)