noun
Uncommon
gemma
JEH-muh
Gemma (noun) means a small bud-like structure some plants and simple animals use to reproduce asexually. Example: “The liverwort spreads by releasing tiny gemmae from cup-shaped structures.”
noun
1
A small bud-like structure some plants and simple animals use to reproduce asexually.
"The liverwort spreads by releasing tiny gemmae from cup-shaped structures."
name
1
A female given name of Italian origin.
"Gemma gave him another gushing smile. She wanted to make amends for almost fouling up Blake's deal. "Gemma. What a beautiful name. You are indeed a jewel.""
— Lisa Andrews, Too Late For Love (1998)
"Gemma started her new job on Monday."
How to use gemma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bud-like reproductive structure in some plants, or a common Italian-origin given name.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gemmas, gemmae
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_____ started her new job on Monday.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin gemma, meaning "bud" — the same root that gave English the word gem.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gemma
See all rhymes for gemma →Frequently asked questions
What does “gemma” mean?
The word “gemma” means a small bud-like structure some plants and simple animals use to reproduce asexually. In plain terms, a bud-like reproductive structure in some plants, or a common Italian-origin given name.
How do you pronounce “gemma”?
“Gemma” is pronounced JEH-muh (/ˈd͡ʒɛmə/ in IPA).
How do you use “gemma” in a sentence?
Here is “gemma” used in a sentence: “The liverwort spreads by releasing tiny gemmae from cup-shaped structures.”
What part of speech is “gemma”?
Depending on how it is used, “gemma” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “gemma” come from?
The word “gemma” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin gemma, meaning "bud" — the same root that gave English the word gem.
Is “gemma” a common word?
“Gemma” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gemma” have?
“Gemma” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small bud-like structure some plants and simple animals use to reproduce asexually.
