[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

germ \germ\ j~erm, n. f. germe, fr. l. germen, germinis,
   sprout, but, germ. cf. germen, germane.
   1. biol. that which is to develop a new individual; as, the
      germ of a fetus, of a plant or flower, and the like; the
      earliest form under which an organism appears.
      1913 webster

            in the entire process in which a new being
            originates . . . two distinct classes of action
            participate; namely, the act of generation by which
            the germ is produced; and the act of development, by
            which that germ is evolved into the complete
            organism.                             --carpenter.
      1913 webster

   2. that from which anything springs; origin; first principle;
      as, the germ of civil liberty.
      1913 webster

   3. biol. the germ cells, collectively, as distinguished
      from the somatic cells, or soma. germ is often used in
      place of germinal to form phrases; as, germ area, germ
      disc, germ membrane, germ nucleus, germ sac, etc.
      webster 1913 suppl.

   4. a microorganism, especially a disease-causing bacterium or
      virus; -- used informally, as, the don't eat food that
      falls on the floor, it may have germs on it.
      pjc

   disease germ biol., a name applied to certain tiny
      bacterial organisms or their spores, such as anthrax
      bacillus and the micrococcus of fowl cholera, which
      have been demonstrated to be the cause of certain
      diseases; same as germ4. see germ theory below.

   germ cell biol., the germ, egg, spore, or cell from which
      the plant or animal arises. at one time a part of the body
      of the parent, it finally becomes detached, and by a
      process of multiplication and growth gives rise to a mass
      of cells, which ultimately form a new individual like the
      parent. see ovum.

   germ gland. anat. see gonad.

   germ stock zool., a special process on which buds are
      developed in certain animals. see doliolum.

   germ theory biol., the theory that living organisms can
      be produced only by the evolution or development of living
      germs or seeds. see biogenesis, and abiogenesis. as
      applied to the origin of disease, the theory claims that
      the zymotic diseases are due to the rapid development and
      multiplication of various bacteria, the germs or spores of
      which are either contained in the organism itself, or
      transferred through the air or water. see fermentation
      theory.
      1913 webster
see also:
germen germane soma disease germ anthrax bacillus micrococcus 
germ theory germ cell ovum germ gland gonad 
germ stock doliolum biogenesis abiogenesis fermentation theory 

Anthrax >> A Words
Anthrax, definition of term: Anthrax
anthrax_pag1.html

Bacillus >> B Words
Bacillus, definition of term: Bacillus
bacillus_pag1.html

Bacillus Subtil >> B Words
Bacillus Subtil, definition of term: Bacillus Subtil
bacillus+subtil_pag1.html

Comma Bacillus >> C Words
Comma Bacillus, definition of term: Comma Bacillus
comma+bacillus_pag1.html