Word · Frequency #11643
germ
病菌；病原体
A microorganism that causes disease; a pathogen, especially a bacterium or virus.
- 1.
The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote.
新生物体发育的小细胞团；种子、芽、孢子或合子
- 2.
anything that provides inspiration for later work
为后续工作提供灵感的事物
- 3.
A pathogen: a pathogenic microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus.
病原体:如细菌或病毒的致病微生物
- 4.
a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism
一种小而简单的结构(如受精卵),可以发展成完整的生物体
- 5.
The origin or earliest version of an idea or project.
想法或项目的起源或最初版本
- 6.
a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use
微小的生命形式(尤其是致病细菌)；该术语不用于专业领域
- 7.
An equivalence class that includes a specified function defined in an open neighborhood.
包含在开放邻域中定义的特定函数的等价类
萌芽；起源；雏形；胚芽；种子；受精卵；函数芽；新生物体发育的小细胞团；种子、芽、孢子或合子；为后续工作提供灵感的事物
In use
The idea for the novel was just a germ in the author's mind before it grew into a full story.
Each seed contains the germ of a new plant, waiting for the right conditions to grow.
Washing your hands regularly helps to remove harmful germs and prevent illness.
the germ of sth
用于比喻某事物的起源或萌芽。
The germ of the idea came from a conversation.
这个想法的萌芽源于一次对话。
spread/kill germs
Wash your hands to kill germs.
洗手以杀死细菌。
germs cause [illness]
用于说明细菌的致病作用。
Connections
Collocations
- germ of an idea
- 想法的萌芽；构思的雏形
- That chance meeting was the germ of an idea for a new business.那次偶然的会面是创办新企业的想法的萌芽。
- spread germs
- 传播病菌
- Cover your mouth when you cough so you don't spread germs.咳嗽时捂住嘴，以免传播病菌。
- kill germs
- 杀灭病菌；杀菌
- The disinfectant spray kills germs on surfaces.这种消毒喷雾能杀灭物体表面的病菌。
- germ warfare
- 细菌战
- Many countries have signed treaties banning germ warfare.许多国家签署了禁止细菌战的条约。
- wheat germ
- 小麦胚芽
- She adds a spoonful of wheat germ to her yogurt.她在酸奶里加了一勺小麦胚芽。
- germ theory
Learner notes
Memory Tip
想象germ既指让你生病的“病菌”，又指能长成生命的“胚芽”，同一个词，一坏一好，记住都是微小的源头。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：everyday health conversations、formal written English germ 一词有多个含义，语气和场合因义项而异。日常口语中常指“病菌”，多用于谈论生病、卫生等，比较随意，专业医学领域通常不用；书面语中还可表示“起源、萌芽”（如 the germ of an idea），比较正式。请根据语境判断具体含义和表达的语气。
Grammar Note
日常用语中指细菌或微生物，专业领域不用于指致病细菌。
Pronunciation & Spelling
与 germ /dʒɜːrm/ 同韵的词有 term、firm、worm、squirm、perm（标准美式读音中均含 /ɜːrm/）。注意 gem /dʒɛm/ 拼写相似但元音不同，不押韵。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.