What does spore mean?
A spore is a small reproductive body made by certain organisms, especially fungi, mosses, ferns, and other plants. It is not usually a seed in the strict botanical sense: it is generally a single cell without an embryo and develops into a new organism under suitable conditions. Fungal spores are often microscopic and can travel through air, water, or contact with animals, allowing fungi to spread across large areas. Some fungal spores are important in medicine, food production, and the environment, while others cause allergies or disease. In general use, the word can also describe any tiny, seed-like particle capable of producing something new. Its scientific meaning is precise, but the image it evokes—a nearly invisible unit carrying the potential for an entire future life—makes it especially memorable.
A small reproductive body produced by fungi, plants, and some other organisms, typically capable of developing into a new individual.
"The fungus produces spores that are dispersed by wind."
Usually countable, with the regular plural spores. The word is most common in biology and mycology.
To produce or release spores.
"The mushroom began to spore in the warm, humid conditions."
This use is relatively uncommon outside specialist biological writing.
The usual plural is spores. In scientific contexts, it may be written as spore or spores depending on whether the reference is to individual reproductive bodies or to the process or quantity involved.
"The researchers found spores on the surface of the sample."
A single fungal spore can contain an entire future organism, packaged small enough to travel on the wind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spore come from?
The word comes through Latin spora from Greek spora, meaning “seed” or “sowing,” referring to a reproductive body rather than a true seed. English borrowed the term in the late 19th century as biology increasingly distinguished spores from seeds. The same Greek and Latin root appears in related scientific words such as sporangium, sporophyte, and sporulate.
Related word forms
How spore is actually used
In biological contexts, spore is standard terminology. The word is sometimes used informally for a tiny particle or seed-like body, but such figurative uses should be clearly distinguished from its scientific meaning.