gamete
noun
gam·ete
| \ ˈga-ˌmēt also gə-ˈmēt
\
\
Definition of gamete
: a mature male or female germ cell usually possessing a haploid chromosome set and capable of initiating formation of a new diploid individual by fusion with a gamete of the opposite sex
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Other Words from gamete
gametic
\ gə-ˈme-tik
, -ˈmē-
\
adjective
, -ˈmē-
\
adjective
gametically
\ gə-ˈme-ti-k(ə-)lē
, -ˈmē- \
adverb
, -ˈmē- \
adverb
Examples of gamete in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To get around that, another group is working on producing artificial gametes—egg and sperm—from preserved skin tissue from 12 white rhinos. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Eggs Successfully Collected from the Last Two Northern White Rhinos," 24 Aug. 2019 Once a group of adults is conditioned, they are transferred to warmer water and made to release their gametes. — Julia Rentsch, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland oysters are having a bad year, and here’s why," 18 Aug. 2019 These stem cells will eventually be converted into gametes, sperm and egg cells. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Birth at Safari Park marks milestone in saving nearly extinct rhino," 29 July 2019 The exact identity of the sperm was random, and the egg waited passively until the Michael Phelps of gametes finally arrived. — Quanta Magazine, "Choosy Eggs May Pick Sperm for Their Genes, Defying Mendel’s Law," 15 Nov. 2017 There’s a little explosion of light as both dump their gametes in the water. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "These Tiny Fireworms Light up to Make Love," 11 Aug. 2018 In December 2017, Surani announced a crucial milestone concerning the eight-week cycle, after which germ cells begin the process of transforming into gametes. — Jason Pontin, WIRED, "Science Is Getting Us Closer to the End of Infertility," 27 Mar. 2018 Four people can pair up, create two embryos and combine gametes from those embryos to make a baby that has four parents. — William Saletan, WSJ, "‘She Has Her Mother’s Laugh’ Review: Biology’s Strange New World," 28 June 2018 Ford says, explaining that the animals procreate by releasing their gametes into the sea and trusting that sperm and eggs will commingle. — Degen Pener, Los Angeles Magazine, "What’s Being Done to Revive L.A.’s Decimated Abalone Population," 22 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gamete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for gamete
gamete
noun
English Language Learners Definition of gamete
technical
: one of the cells that join together to begin making a person or other creature
See the full definition for gamete in the English Language Learners Dictionary
gamete
noun
ga·mete
| \ ˈgam-ˌēt also gə-ˈmēt\
Medical Definition of gamete
: a mature male or female germ cell usually possessing a haploid chromosome set and capable of initiating formation of a new diploid individual by fusion with a gamete of the opposite sex
— called also sex cell
Other Words from gamete
gametic
\ gə-ˈmet-ik
, -ˈmēt-
\
adjective
, -ˈmēt-
\
adjective
gametically
\ -i-k(ə-)lē
\
adverb
\
adverb