multi-spored
|mul-ti-spored|
🇺🇸
/ˌmʌltiˈspɔrd/
🇬🇧
/ˌmʌltiˈspɔːd/
having many spores
Etymology
'multi-spored' originates from Latin and Greek roots, specifically the Latin prefix 'multi' from 'multus' meaning 'many', and the Greek word 'spora' (via New Latin 'spora') meaning 'seed' or 'sowing'.
'spora' (Greek) passed into New Latin as 'spora', entered Late Latin/Old French and then Middle English as 'spore', and the Latin-derived prefix 'multi-' was later combined with 'spore' in modern English to form 'multi-spored'.
Initially the components meant 'many' and 'seed/sowing', but over time the compound came to be used specifically to mean 'bearing or producing many spores' in biological contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having or producing multiple spores; bearing many spores (used especially of fungi, algae, or similar organisms).
The specimen was multi-spored, releasing thousands of spores during a single season.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/04 21:14