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sporidium

sporidium

9.9
A tiny cell like a spore that helps fungi or protozoa reproduce
  • noun
  • /spəˈrɪdiəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : esporidio
  • Researchers collected sporidia samples to study their role in disease transmission.

Examples

  • A sporidium can be seen under a microscope.

  • How does a sporidium develop into a mature organism?

  • Under the microscope, the scientist identified several sporidia among the fungal cells.

  • The life cycle of this protozoan includes a stage where sporidia are released into the environment.

  • Under the microscope, the scientist identified several sporidia among the fungal cells.

  • The life cycle of this protozoan includes a stage where sporidia are released into the environment.

  • Researchers collected sporidia samples to study their role in disease transmission.

Synonyms

spore
vssporidium
  • Specialized
68 6.7

A very small thing made by some plants and fungi that can grow into a new plant or fungus

is a smaller reproductive cell specialized to certain fungi and protozoa

Surface Forms

sporidium singular
sporidia plural

Morphology

sporidium = spore (semi-transparent) = spore + idium

Formally derived from 'spore' plus the scientific diminutive suffix '-idium' meaning 'small', but the suffix is specialized and not obvious to a general B1 learner.

Etymology

The word sporidium comes from the Greek word spora meaning 'seed' or 'spore' and the small ending -idion meaning 'little'. Just like the common word spore, sporidium means a 'little spore', so it is the name for a very small reproductive cell in fungi and protozoa.