English noun: germ | |||
1. | germ (cognition) anything that provides inspiration for later work | ||
Synonyms | seed, source | ||
Broader (hypernym) | inspiration | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | muse, taproot | ||
2. | germ (body) a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism | ||
Broader (hypernym) | anatomical structure, bodily structure, body structure, complex body part, structure | ||
3. | germ (animal) a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use | ||
Synonyms | bug, microbe | ||
Broader (hypernym) | micro-organism, microorganism | ||