panspermia

[ pan-spur-mee-uh ]

nounBiology.
  1. the theory that life exists and is distributed throughout the universe in the form of germs or spores that develop in the right environment.

Origin of panspermia

1
1835–45; <New Latin <Greek panspermía mixture of all seeds. See pan-, -sperm, -ia
  • Also pan·sper·ma·tism [pan-spur-muh-tiz-uhm], /pænˈspɜr məˌtɪz əm/, pan·sper·my [pan-spur-mee]. /ˈpænˌspɜr mi/.

Other words from panspermia

  • pan·sper·mic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024