Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun germ

3 senses of germ

Sense 1
source, seed, germ -- (anything that provides inspiration for later work)
       => inspiration -- (arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity)

Sense 2
germ -- (a small apparently simple structure (as a fertilized egg) from which new tissue can develop into a complete organism)
       => structure, anatomical structure, complex body part, bodily structure, body structure -- (a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing; "he has good bone structure")

Sense 3
microbe, bug, germ -- (a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium); the term is not in technical use)
       => microorganism, micro-organism -- (any organism of microscopic size)