heterothallic

adjective

het·​ero·​thal·​lic ˌhe-tə-rō-ˈtha-lik How to pronounce heterothallic (audio)
1
: having two or more morphologically similar haploid phases or types of which individuals from the same type are mutually sterile but individuals from different types are cross-fertile
heterothallic fungi
heterothallic spores
2
heterothallism noun

Word History

Etymology

heter- + thallus + -ic

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heterothallic was in 1904

Dictionary Entries Near heterothallic

Cite this Entry

“Heterothallic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterothallic. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

heterothallic

adjective
het·​ero·​thal·​lic -ˈthal-ik How to pronounce heterothallic (audio)
: having two or more morphologically similar haploid phases or types of which individuals from the same type are mutually sterile but individuals from different types are cross-fertile
heterothallism noun
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