In the entire process in which a new being originates . . . two distinct classes of action participate; namely, the act of generation by which the germ is produced; and the act of development, by which that germ is evolved into the complete organism. Carpenter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That from which anything springs; origin; first principle; as, the germ of civil liberty. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) The germ cells, collectively, as distinguished from the somatic cells, or soma. Germ is often used in place of germinal to form phrases; as, germ area, germ disc, germ membrane, germ nucleus, germ sac, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

4. A microorganism, especially a disease-causing bacterium or virus; -- used informally, as, the don't eat food that falls on the floor, it may have germs on it. [ PJC ]

Disease germ (Biol.), a name applied to certain tiny bacterial organisms or their spores, such as Anthrax bacillus and the Micrococcus of fowl cholera, which have been demonstrated to be the cause of certain diseases; same as germ{ 4 }. See Germ theory (below). --
Germ cell (Biol.), the germ, egg, spore, or cell from which the plant or animal arises. At one time a part of the body of the parent, it finally becomes detached, and by a process of multiplication and growth gives rise to a mass of cells, which ultimately form a new individual like the parent. See Ovum. --
Germ gland. (Anat.) See Gonad. --
Germ stock (Zool.), a special process on which buds are developed in certain animals. See Doliolum. --
Germ theory (Biol.), the theory that living organisms can be produced only by the evolution or development of living germs or seeds. See Biogenesis, and Abiogenesis. As applied to the origin of disease, the theory claims that the zymotic diseases are due to the rapid development and multiplication of various bacteria, the germs or spores of which are either contained in the organism itself, or transferred through the air or water. See Fermentation theory. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brother german. See Brother german. --
Cousins german. See the Note under Cousin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The German language. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (a) A round dance, often with a waltz movement, abounding in capriciosly involved figures. (b) A social party at which the german is danced. [ 1913 Webster ]

High German, the Teutonic dialect of Upper or Southern Germany, -- comprising Old High German, used from the 8th to the 11th century; Middle H. G., from the 12th to the 15th century; and Modern or New H. G., the language of Luther's Bible version and of modern German literature. The dialects of Central Germany, the basis of the modern literary language, are often called Middle German, and the Southern German dialects Upper German; but High German is also used to cover both groups. --
Low German, the language of Northern Germany and the Netherlands, -- including Friesic; Anglo-Saxon or Saxon; Old Saxon; Dutch or Low Dutch, with its dialect, Flemish; and Plattdeutsch (called also Low German), spoken in many dialects. [ 1913 Webster ]

German Baptists. See Dunker. --
German bit, a wood-boring tool, having a long elliptical pod and a scew point. --
German carp (Zool.), the crucian carp. --
German millet (Bot.), a kind of millet (Setaria Italica, var.), whose seed is sometimes used for food. --
German paste, a prepared food for caged birds. --
German process (Metal.), the process of reducing copper ore in a blast furnace, after roasting, if necessary. Raymond. --
German sarsaparilla, a substitute for sarsaparilla extract. --
German sausage, a polony, or gut stuffed with meat partly cooked. --
German silver (Chem.), a silver-white alloy, hard and tough, but malleable and ductile, and quite permanent in the air. It contains nickel, copper, and zinc in varying proportions, and was originally made from old copper slag at Henneberg. A small amount of iron is sometimes added to make it whiter and harder. It is essentially identical with the Chinese alloy packfong. It was formerly much used for tableware, knife handles, frames, cases, bearings of machinery, etc., but is now largely superseded by other white alloys. --
German steel (Metal.), a metal made from bog iron ore in a forge, with charcoal for fuel. --
German text (Typog.), a character resembling modern German type, used in English printing for ornamental headings, etc., as in the words, [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ This line is German Text. --
German tinder. See Amadou. [ 1913 Webster ]

American germander, Teucrium Canadense. --
Germander chickweed, Veronica agrestis. --
Water germander, Teucrium Scordium. --
Wood germander, Teucrium Scorodonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

The phrase would be more germane to the matter. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ An amendment ] must be germane. Barclay (Digest). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Teutonic. [ A loose sense ] [ 1913 Webster ]