pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpä-lən 

1

: a mass of microspores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust

2

: a dusty bloom on the body of an insect

Examples of pollen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But researchers didn’t find any maize pollen in the canals. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024

Each wolf’s muzzle often is coated in fine, yellow pollen after their nectar snack. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 20 Nov. 2024

Typically, people will deal with urticaria by avoiding what happens to be triggers for them such as foods like peanuts, eggs, nuts and shellfish, medications, insect stings or bites, temperature changes, physical activity, sun exposure, infections, pet dander or pollen. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024

In such a case, there's very little space for Species A's pollen on the pollinator's body. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin pollin-, pollen, from Latin, fine flour

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pollen

• pollen basket
• pollen count
• pollen grain
• pollen mother cell
• pollen sac
• pollen tube

Kids Definition

pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpäl-ən 

: a mass of tiny particles in the anthers of a flower that fertilize the seeds and usually appear as fine yellow dust

Medical Definition

pollen

noun

pol·​len ˈpäl-ən 

: a mass of male spores in a seed plant appearing usually as a fine dust