*sperma*

a. [ Gr. 'a priv. + &unr_;, &unr_;, seed. ] (Bot.) Aspermous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. used in former classification systems; approximately synonymous with order Caryophyllales.
Syn. -- group Centrospermae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. mh`nh the moon + spe`rma seed. ] (Bot.) Pertaining to a natural order (Menispermaceae) of climbing plants of which moonseed (Menispermum) is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Mono- + Gr. spe`rma seed: cf. F. monosperme. ] (Bot.) Having only one seed. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Biol.) A believer in panspermy; one who rejects the theory of spontaneous generation; a biogenist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sperma sperm + cetus, gen. ceti, any large sea animal, a whale, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. See Sperm, Cetaceous. ] A white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, oilments, cosmetics, etc. It consists essentially of ethereal salts of palmitic acid with ethal and other hydrocarbon bases. The substance of spermaceti after the removal of certain impurities is sometimes called cetin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spermaceti whale (Zool.), the sperm whale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biol.) See Spermist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; sperm + fe`rein to bear. ] (Bot.) That part of the ovary from which the ovules arise; the placenta. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Anat.) An organ in which spermatozoa are developed; a sperm gland; a testicle. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Spermathecae [ NL., from Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; seed + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; case, or receptacle. ] (Zool.) A small sac connected with the female reproductive organs of insects and many other invertebrates, serving to receive and retain the spermatozoa. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. spermaticus, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;: cf. F. spermatique. See Sperm. ] (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to semen; as, the spermatic fluid, the spermatic vessels, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spermatic cord (Anat.), the cord which suspends the testicle within the scrotum. It is made up of a connective tissue sheath inclosing the spermatic duct and accompanying vessels and nerves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Spermatic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physiol. Chem.) A substance allied to alkali albumin and to mucin, present in semen, to which it is said to impart the mucilaginous character. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physiol.) The emission of sperm, or semen. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Spermatia [ NL. ] (Bot.) One of the motionless spermatozoids in the conceptacles of certain fungi. J. H. Balfour. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. See Sperm. ] To yield seed; to emit seed, or sperm. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Spermoblast. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Spermato- + Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a hollow vessel. ] (Physiol.) Same as Spermoblast. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. See Spermato-, and Gemma. ] (Physiol.) Same as Spermosphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Spermato- + genesis. ] (Biol.) The development of the spermatozoids. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Relating to, or connected with, spermatogenesis; as, spermatogenetic function. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Spermato- + -genous. ] (Physiol.) Sperm-producing. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, sperm + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; offspring. ] (Physiol.) A primitive seminal cell, occuring in masses in the seminal tubules. It divides into a mass (spermosphere) of small cells (spermoblast), which in turn give rise to spermatozoids. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Spermato- + -oid. ] (Physiol.) Spermlike; resembling sperm, or semen. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Spermatoa [ NL., fr. Gr. spe`rma, -atos, seed + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; an egg. ] (Anat.) A spermoblast. -- Sper`ma*to"al a. Owen. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Spermato- + Gr. fe`rein to bear. ] 1. (Physiol.) Same as Spermospore. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A capsule or pocket inclosing a number of spermatozoa. They are present in many annelids, brachiopods, mollusks, and crustaceans. In cephalopods the structure of the capsule is very complex. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Producing seed, or sperm; seminiferous; as, the so-called spermatophorous cells. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL.; spermato- + Gr. &unr_; plant. ] (Bot.) A phylum embracing the highest plants, or those that produce seeds; the seed plants, or flowering plants. They form the most numerous group, including over 120, 000 species. In general, the group is characterized by the marked development of the sporophyte, with great differentiation of its parts (root, stem, leaves, flowers, etc.); by the extreme reduction of the gametophyte; and by the development of seeds. All the Spermatophyta are heterosporous; fertilization of the egg cell is either through a
pollen tube emitted by the microspore or (in a few gymnosperms) by spermatozoids. The phrase “flowering plants” is less distinctive than “seed plants, ” since the conifers, grasses, sedges, oaks, etc., do not produce flowers in the popular sense. For this reason the terms Anthrophyta, Phaenogamia, and Panerogamia have been superseded as names of the phylum by Spermatophyta. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Any plant of the phylum Spermatophyta. -- Sper`ma*to*phyt"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{ } n. [ NL., fr. Gr. spe`rma, -atos, seed + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to flow. ] (Med.) Abnormally frequent involuntary emission of the semen without copulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Spermospore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Spermatozoon + Gr. e'i^dos form. ] (Biol.) The male germ cell in animals and plants, the essential element in fertilization; a microscopic animalcule-like particle, usually provided with one or more cilia by which it is capable of active motion. In animals, the familiar type is that of a small, more or less ovoid head, with a delicate threadlike cilium, or tail. Called also spermatozoon. In plants the more usual term is antherozoid. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. (Biol.) A spermatozoid. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Spermatozoa [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, sperm + zw^, on an animal. ] (Biol.) Same as Spermatozoid. [ 1913 Webster ]