germ
Translation
germ, microbe, origin, seed
Examples
Wash your hands to remove germs.
Wash your hands to remove germs.
The idea had the germ of genius.
The idea had the germ of genius.
Grammar Patterns
((a/the)) germ a microorganism Wash your hands to remove germs.
((the)) germ ((of sth.)) the beginning or origin of (sth.) The idea had the germ of genius.
Similar Words
Synonyms: microbe, bacterium, bug, seed, origin, root
Etymology
From Latin 'germen' meaning 'sprout, bud, embryo'. This connects to both the biological sense and the figurative sense of an idea's beginning.
Memory Tips
Imagine a germ that 'germinates' (sprouts) into either a plant, an illness, or an idea.