Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
resting spore

resting spore

8.4
A sleeping cell that some fungi or algae make and that can grow again after a long inactive time
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : espora de reposo
  • Scientists observed that resting spores can remain dormant for several years before germinating.

Examples

  • The formation of resting spores allows algae to persist through harsh winters.

  • The resting spore can survive harsh conditions.

  • During unfavorable conditions, some fungi produce resting spores to survive until the environment improves.

  • Some algae produce a resting spore during droughts.

  • The algae produced a resting spore that remained dormant until conditions improved.

  • After a long dry season, the resting spore of the fungus began to germinate in the rain.

  • The scientist discovered a resting spore that could survive years without water.

Synonyms

chlamydospore
vsresting spore
  • Specialized
9.9

A thick-walled cell fungi and some algae make to survive bad conditions

is a dormant spore in fungi or algae that can later germinate
teliospore
vsresting spore
  • Specialized
9.9

A thick-walled spore fungi make at the end of their life cycle to survive bad conditions

is a general dormant spore not limited to final life stages
endospore
vsresting spore
  • Specialized
9.9

A very strong resting form that some bacteria make to survive harsh conditions

is a dormant spore in fungi or algae rather than one formed inside cells

How Dormant

endospore
  • Specialized
9.9
resting spore
  • Specialized
8.4

Surface Forms

resting spore singular
resting spores plural

Morphology

rest + spore

The compound is compositionally transparent: 'resting' conveys inactivity/dormancy and 'spore' denotes a reproductive/dormant cell, so the overall meaning 'a dormant spore' is directly derivable from the parts. This adjective+noun combination follows standard descriptive patterns (and is paralleled in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand the MWE.

Etymology

The name resting spore comes from the simple image of a tiny spore that is resting, like a little seed that 'sleeps'. In nature, fungi and algae make these 'sleeping' spores to survive bad times and 'wake up' later and grow, so the name shows they stay inactive for a long time but can start living again.