germ

n. microbe, microorganism (especially one which causes disease); sprout, bud; beginning stage in development; origin, starting point

v. sprout, germinate

Germ can mean:Microorganism, especially a pathogenic one; see Germ theory of disease.Germ cell, a cell that has all the information to grow into a complete adult organism.The Germ (periodical), a periodical established by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to disseminate their ideas.Germ (mathematics)Cereal germGerm, Hautes-Pyrénées, a commune of the Hautes-Pyrénées département, in southwestern France
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Noun
1. anything that provides inspiration for later work
(synonym) source, seed
(hypernym) inspiration
(hyponym) taproot
(derivation) evolve, germinate, develop
2. a small simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism
(hypernym) structure, anatomical structure, complex body part, bodily structure, body structure
(derivation) shoot, spud, germinate, pullulate, bourgeon, burgeon forth, sprout
3. a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use
(synonym) microbe, bug
(hypernym) microorganism

n. yeast, leavening agent (used in bread and beer)

(v. i.)
To germinate.
  

(n.)
That which is to develop a new individual; as, the germ of a fetus, of a plant or flower, and the like; the earliest form under which an organism appears.
  

(n.)
That from which anything springs; origin; first principle; as, the germ of civil liberty.