Sperm
noun
The reproductive cells produced by male animals or men.
The male fish releases sperm into the water to fertilize the eggs.
Often appears as...
- sperm cell
- sperm count
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The substance, also called spermaceti, found in the head of a sperm whale.
The sperm from sperm whales was historically used in candles and oil lamps.
Often appears as...
- sperm oil
- sperm whale
Usage tips
Academic, Technical
noun
The reproductive cells produced by male animals or men.
The male fish releases sperm into the water to fertilize the eggs.
Often appears as...
- sperm cell
- sperm count
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The substance, also called spermaceti, found in the head of a sperm whale.
The sperm from sperm whales was historically used in candles and oil lamps.
Often appears as...
- sperm oil
- sperm whale
Usage tips
Academic, Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Biological Term
Used specifically to refer to male reproductive cells, not females.
Sperm are necessary for human reproduction.
Pro Tip 2/3Fertility Context
Mentioned in discussions about pregnancy and conceiving.
They went to a fertility clinic to check their sperm count.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-human Sperm
Also refers to reproductive cells in animals, not exclusively humans.
The veterinarian discussed the quality of the stallion's sperm.
Pro Tip 1/3Biological Term
Used specifically to refer to male reproductive cells, not females.
Sperm are necessary for human reproduction.
Pro Tip 2/3Fertility Context
Mentioned in discussions about pregnancy and conceiving.
They went to a fertility clinic to check their sperm count.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-human Sperm
Also refers to reproductive cells in animals, not exclusively humans.
The veterinarian discussed the quality of the stallion's sperm.
Pro Tip 1/3Biological Term
Used specifically to refer to male reproductive cells, not females.
Sperm are necessary for human reproduction.
Pro Tip 2/3Fertility Context
Mentioned in discussions about pregnancy and conceiving.
They went to a fertility clinic to check their sperm count.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-human Sperm
Also refers to reproductive cells in animals, not exclusively humans.
The veterinarian discussed the quality of the stallion's sperm.
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Video examples
The evolution of animal...
In some bed bug species, the females have evolved an entirely new set of genitalia on their right hand flanks where the males usually pierce them. That allows them to maintain the power to filter out unwanted sperm with their genitalia. And duck vaginas are shaped like a clockwise spiral
Video examples
Mary Roach: 10 things...
Shy but ambitious pig farmers, however, can purchase a -- this is true -- a sow vibrator, that hangs on the sperm feeder tube to vibrate. Because, as I mentioned, the clitoris is inside the vagina. So possibly, you know, a little more arousing than it looks. And I also said to her,
Video examples
What is epigenetics? -...
when mother rats weren't attentive enough to their pups, genes in the babies that helped them manage stress were methylated and turned off. And it might not stop with that generation. Most epigenetic marks are erased when egg and sperm cells are formed.
Video examples
How menstruation works -...
The tiny oocyte moves along the fallopian tube. A pregnancy can only occur if the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell within the next 24 hours. Otherwise, the egg's escapade ends, and the window for pregnancy closes for that month.
Video examples
How in vitro fertilizatio...
The egg is the largest cell in the body and is protected by a thick, extracellular shell of sugar and protein called the zona pellucida. The zona thwarts the entry and fusion of more than one sperm,
Video examples
Cell membranes are way...
Other proteins in cell membranes can help fuse two different bilayers. That can work to our benefit, like when a sperm fertilizes an egg, but also harm us, as it does when a virus enters a cell.
Video examples
Elephant Mating,...
And thousands are engulfed and destroyed. But the fittest survive, only to run into a protective cloud that shrouds the egg and causes some of the sperm to explode prematurely.
Video examples
The Global Spermageddon...
That is your sample on there. TIM Time for the moment of truth. TIM This is it? Wow. This is-- it's mind-blowing to see your individual sperm.
Video examples
How Are Eggs Made? PIPE...
remarkably it takes more than one sperm to start a new life the extra sperm probably releases substances that start the embryos development
Video examples
The Largest Predator in...
sperm whale families may contain several generations of daughters with their babies overseen by a wise old grandmother
Video examples
The evolution of animal...
In some bed bug species, the females have evolved an entirely new set of genitalia on their right hand flanks where the males usually pierce them. That allows them to maintain the power to filter out unwanted sperm with their genitalia. And duck vaginas are shaped like a clockwise spiral
Video examples
Mary Roach: 10 things...
Shy but ambitious pig farmers, however, can purchase a -- this is true -- a sow vibrator, that hangs on the sperm feeder tube to vibrate. Because, as I mentioned, the clitoris is inside the vagina. So possibly, you know, a little more arousing than it looks. And I also said to her,
Video examples
What is epigenetics? -...
when mother rats weren't attentive enough to their pups, genes in the babies that helped them manage stress were methylated and turned off. And it might not stop with that generation. Most epigenetic marks are erased when egg and sperm cells are formed.
Video examples
How menstruation works -...
The tiny oocyte moves along the fallopian tube. A pregnancy can only occur if the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell within the next 24 hours. Otherwise, the egg's escapade ends, and the window for pregnancy closes for that month.
Video examples
How in vitro fertilizatio...
The egg is the largest cell in the body and is protected by a thick, extracellular shell of sugar and protein called the zona pellucida. The zona thwarts the entry and fusion of more than one sperm,
Video examples
Cell membranes are way...
Other proteins in cell membranes can help fuse two different bilayers. That can work to our benefit, like when a sperm fertilizes an egg, but also harm us, as it does when a virus enters a cell.
Video examples
Elephant Mating,...
And thousands are engulfed and destroyed. But the fittest survive, only to run into a protective cloud that shrouds the egg and causes some of the sperm to explode prematurely.
Video examples
The Global Spermageddon...
That is your sample on there. TIM Time for the moment of truth. TIM This is it? Wow. This is-- it's mind-blowing to see your individual sperm.
Video examples
How Are Eggs Made? PIPE...
remarkably it takes more than one sperm to start a new life the extra sperm probably releases substances that start the embryos development
Video examples
The Largest Predator in...
sperm whale families may contain several generations of daughters with their babies overseen by a wise old grandmother
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Alice Roberts
English Scientist
Chance is hugely significant in biology. In fact, the presence of apparent randomness in so many aspects of biology - from mutations in DNA to the chance involved in that one sperm reaching that one egg that became you - suggests that randomness is useful, even necessary, in very many cases.
Quote examples
Robert Winston
British Scientist
Women of child-bearing age steadily run out of eggs by the continuous process of cell death. While reading a copy of the 'Guardian' carefully from cover to cover, a normal woman will have lost on average two eggs - while, typically, a normal man will have made 70,000 new sperm.
Quote examples
Dave Barry
American Journalist
It is a well-documented fact that guys will not ask for directions. This is a biological thing. This is why it takes several million sperm cells... to locate a female egg, despite the fact that the egg is, relative to them, the size of Wisconsin.
Quote examples
Edith Widder
American Scientist
Giant squid aren't rare. Based on the number of beaks that have been found in the stomachs of sperm whales, it's thought that there are actually millions of them in the ocean, and yet, we haven't seen them.
Quote examples
Emily Martin
American Scientist
When we anthropomorphize the egg and sperm, when we turn them into a miniature bride and groom complete with personalities, what effect does this have on abortion legislation?
Quote examples
Sarah Michelle Gellar
American Actress
Just because you donate sperm does not make you a father. I don't have a father. I would never give him the credit or acknowledge him as my father.
Quote examples
Shoojit Sircar
Indian Director
I never thought a film about a sperm donor could work with audiences in India, but it did.
Quote examples
Mitt Romney
American Politician
When sperm and egg unite, something goes from inanimate to animate. It is life.
Quote examples
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
Dutch Scientist
Man comes not from an egg but from an animalcule that is found in male sperm.
Quote examples
Emil Cioran
Romanian Philosopher
Sperm is a bandit in its pure state.
Quote examples
Alice Roberts
English Scientist
Chance is hugely significant in biology. In fact, the presence of apparent randomness in so many aspects of biology - from mutations in DNA to the chance involved in that one sperm reaching that one egg that became you - suggests that randomness is useful, even necessary, in very many cases.
Quote examples
Robert Winston
British Scientist
Women of child-bearing age steadily run out of eggs by the continuous process of cell death. While reading a copy of the 'Guardian' carefully from cover to cover, a normal woman will have lost on average two eggs - while, typically, a normal man will have made 70,000 new sperm.
Quote examples
Dave Barry
American Journalist
It is a well-documented fact that guys will not ask for directions. This is a biological thing. This is why it takes several million sperm cells... to locate a female egg, despite the fact that the egg is, relative to them, the size of Wisconsin.
Quote examples
Edith Widder
American Scientist
Giant squid aren't rare. Based on the number of beaks that have been found in the stomachs of sperm whales, it's thought that there are actually millions of them in the ocean, and yet, we haven't seen them.
Quote examples
Emily Martin
American Scientist
When we anthropomorphize the egg and sperm, when we turn them into a miniature bride and groom complete with personalities, what effect does this have on abortion legislation?
Quote examples
Sarah Michelle Gellar
American Actress
Just because you donate sperm does not make you a father. I don't have a father. I would never give him the credit or acknowledge him as my father.
Quote examples
Shoojit Sircar
Indian Director
I never thought a film about a sperm donor could work with audiences in India, but it did.
Quote examples
Mitt Romney
American Politician
When sperm and egg unite, something goes from inanimate to animate. It is life.
Quote examples
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
Dutch Scientist
Man comes not from an egg but from an animalcule that is found in male sperm.
Quote examples
Emil Cioran
Romanian Philosopher
Sperm is a bandit in its pure state.
Example 1 of 10
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