microspore

noun

mi·​cro·​spore ˈmī-krə-ˌspȯr 

: any of the spores in heterosporous plants that give rise to male gametophytes and are generally smaller than the megaspore

microsporous

ˌmī-krə-ˈspȯr-əs  mī-ˈkrä-spə-rəs 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

microspore

noun

mi·​cro·​spore ˈmī-krə-ˌspō(ə)r, -ˌspȯ(ə)r 

1

: any of the spores in heterosporous plants that give rise to male gametophytes and are generally smaller than the megaspore

2

: the smaller of two forms of spores produced by various protozoans (as radiolarians) compare macrospore