germ

noun ! Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about germ at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

1. Anything that provides inspiration for later work.
2. A small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism.
3. A minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use.