Pollen
/ˈpɒlən/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A fine, granular substance produced in flowers. uncountable, usually
- 2 the fine spores that contain male gametes and that are borne by an anther in a flowering plant wordnet
- 3 Pollen grains (microspores) produced in the anthers of flowering plants. uncountable, usually
"In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual."
- 4 Fine powder in general, fine flour. obsolete, uncountable, usually
"and ther was good wyne of Gascoyne,[…]as well of pollen, as of other vitailes"
Verb
- 1 To cover with, or as if with, pollen. poetic, transitive
Example
More examples"Just how well can masks block the, even smaller than pollen, yellow sand dust? I think it much more of a nuisance than pollen."
Etymology
From Latin pollen (“fine flour”). Used by Linnaeus in the 18th century to describe the spores produced in the anthers of flowers.