germ

Short definition from Wiktionary

Noun

1. 1
   The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote: The embryo of a seed, especially of a seed used as a cereal or grain. See Wikipedia article on cereal germ.
2. 2
   The small mass of cells from which a new organism develops; a seed, bud, spore, or zygote: The small mass of cells from which a part of an organism develops, or a macroscopic but immature form of that part; a bud.
3. 3
   A pathogen: a pathogenic microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus.
4. 4
   The origin or earliest version of an idea or project.
5. 5
   An equivalence class that includes a specified function defined in an open neighborhood.
6. 6
   a German person.

Verb

1. 1
   To germinate.
2. 2
   To grow, as if parasitic.