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german
German cockroach
German Democratic Republic
German East Africa
German measles
German shepherd
German silver
germanate
germander
germane
Germanic
germanise
Germanism
Germanist
germanium
germanize
Germanophile
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germ

germ [ jurm ] (plural germs)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. microbiology microorganism: a microorganism, especially one that can cause disease

2. microbiology cell: the smallest element in an organism such as a spore or a fertilized egg that is capable of growing into a complete adult or part

3. beginning: the first sign of something that will develop
the germ of an idea

[Mid-15th century. Via French germe< Latin germen "seed, sprout" < gignere "beget"]
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