germ/dʒɝm; dʒɜːm/n 1 [C usually plural 一般用复数] a very small living thing that can make you ill [ bacteria ] 病菌﹐细菌: Sneezing spreads germs. 打喷嚏传播病菌。Kitchen cloths can harbour (=contain) germs. 厨房抹布会藏纳细菌。fears of germ warfare (=the use of germs to harm or kill people in a war)对细菌战的恐惧2 [C usually singular 一般用单数] the early stages of something or a very small amount of an idea, feeling etc 萌芽﹐起源﹔少量〔思想﹑情感等〕: germ of an idea/theory etc The germ of the idea goes back to Ancient Rome. 这个想法萌芽于古罗马时代。There's a germ of truth in what he says. 他说的话有点道理。