ovule

o·vule  (vyl, vyl)

n.

1. Botany A minute structure in seed plants, containing the embryo sac and surrounded by the nucellus, that develops into a seed after fertilization.

2. Zoology A small or immature ovum.

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[New Latin vulum, diminutive of Latin vum, egg; see awi- in Indo-European roots.]

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ovu·lar (vy-lr, vy-), ovu·lary (-lr) adj.

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ovule

Noun

1. Bot the part of a plant that contains the egg cell and develops into the seed after fertilization

2. Zool an immature ovum [Latin ovum egg]

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ovule  (vyl, vyl)

The female reproductive structure that develops into a seed in a seed-bearing plant. An ovule consists of a megasporangium surrounded by one or two layers of tissue called integuments. The megasporangium produces spores that develop into megagametophytes. These megagametophytes remain within the tissues of the ovule and produce one or more egg cells. Sperm from pollen grains enter the ovule through an opening called a micropyle and fertilize the egg cells. The resulting embryo then begins to develop within the ovule, which becomes a seed. Among the conifers and cycads, the ovules are typically found in pairs on scales in the female cones. The ovules of angiosperms are contained in a structure called the ovary within in the flower. See more at flowergametophytemegasporogenesispollination

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	ovule - a small body that contains the female germ cell of a plant; develops into a seed after fertilization reproductive structure - the parts of a plant involved in its reproduction chalaza - basal part of a plant ovule opposite the micropyle; where integument and nucellus are joined nucellus - central part of a plant ovule; contains the embryo sac micropyle - minute opening in the wall of an ovule through which the pollen tube enters amphitropous ovule - a partly inverted ovule turned back 90 degrees on its stalk anatropous ovule - a completely inverted ovule turned back 180 degrees on its stalk campylotropous ovule - a curved ovule with the micropyle almost touching the funiculus orthotropous ovule - a completely straight ovule with the micropyle at the apex seed - a mature fertilized plant ovule consisting of an embryo and its food source and having a protective coat or testa
	2.	ovule - a small or immature ovum egg cell, ovum - the female reproductive cell; the female gamete