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Definition of spore noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

 

spore

 noun
noun
NAmE//spɔr//
 
(biology)
 
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one of the very small cells that are produced by some plants and that develop into new plants Ferns, mosses and fungi spread by means of spores. Topic CollocationsThe Living Worldanimals
  • animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
  • fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
  • birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
  • insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
  • insects/bees/locusts swarm
  • bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
  • spiders spin/weave a web
  • snakes/lizards shed their skins
  • bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
  • insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
  • an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
  • attract/find/choose a mate
  • produce/release eggs/sperm
  • lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
  • inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
  • mark/enter/defend (a) territory
  • stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
plants and fungi
  • trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
  • a seed germinates/sprouts
  • leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
  • flower buds swell/open
  • a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
  • pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
  • produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
  • produce/bear fruit
  • develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
  • provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
  • perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
bacteria and viruses
  • bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
  • bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
  • bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
  • bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
  • a virus enters/invades something/the body
  • a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
  • be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
  • contain/carry/harbor bacteria/a virus
  • kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
See spore in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary