Definition

A mature male reproductive cell that can fertilize an egg, typically having a head, a neck, and a long tail for movement.

Example

The spermatozoon swims through the female reproductive tract to reach the egg for fertilization.

Conversation

I was reading about reproduction in biology class today.

Oh really? What did you learn?

We discussed how a spermatozoon fertilizes the egg to create a new life.

That's interesting! I never knew the details of how that worked.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Spermatozoon → It is formed from "sperma" (from Greek σπέρμα, meaning seed) and "zoon" (from Greek ζῷον, meaning animal or living being). The word "spermatozoon" refers to a seed or male reproductive cell that is a living entity.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sperma' meaning seed and 'zoon' meaning living being — together they describe a living seed, which is what a spermatozoon is.

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