gymnosporous
|gym-no-spor-ous|
🇺🇸
/ˌdʒɪm.nəˈspɔr.əs/
🇬🇧
/ˌdʒɪm.nəˈspɒr.əs/
naked spores
Etymology
'gymnosporous' originates from Greek via New Latin, specifically from the Greek elements 'gymnós' and 'spórā', where 'gymnós' meant 'naked' and 'spórā' meant 'seed' or 'spore'.
'gymnosporous' was formed in scientific New Latin as 'gymnosporus' (combining 'gymno-' + '-sporus') and was adopted into modern English scientific usage as 'gymnosporous'.
Initially it meant 'having naked seeds/spores' in classical element usage; over time it has retained this technical botanical/mycological sense of 'having or producing naked spores'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having or producing naked spores; spores are not enclosed in a sporangium or similar structure.
Many primitive fungi are gymnosporous, releasing spores directly into the air rather than from enclosed sporangia.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/31 13:33