plural ovules
1
: a structure of a seed plant that gives rise to female reproductive cells and is found within the floral ovaries of angiosperms or are borne on female strobili of gymnosperms

Note: In flowering plants the ovule consists of a protective outer integument and an inner nucellus enclosing the embryo sac

When the pollen tube enters an ovule within the ovary, one of the two sperm cells it carries fuses with the egg, producing a diploid zygote …David L. Mulcahy et al.
Female cones contain ovules, or early-stage eggs, at the base of each of their scales. When pollen from the male cones, brought by insects or the wind, reaches these ovules, they develop into seeds.Laetitia Sands
2
: a small egg
especially : one in an early stage of growth
An appropriate connection of the cells in the ovary follicles is vital for a healthy ovule maturation and fertilization, and also for endometrium preparation for implantation that can cause endometriosis. Navid Shomali

Examples of ovule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Once pollen is transported to the ovary, an ovule is fertilized. Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2022 Unless all the ovules are pollinated evenly, berries are misshapen and seeds are different sizes. Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 27 June 2019 This means that a flower has as many as 500 ovules that need to be pollinated to make a single berry. Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 27 June 2019 Scientists diagnose a mysterious blockage in the flowers that keeps the sperm cells in the pollen from reaching the ovule. Richard Conniff, WSJ, 13 Apr. 2018 Fig wasps deposit pollen—and lay their own eggs—in the fig’s egg-bearing ovules. National Geographic, 29 Sep. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ovule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin ōvulum, diminutive of Latin ovum "egg" — more at egg entry 1

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of ovule was in 1762

Dictionary Entries Near ovule

Cite this Entry

“Ovule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ovule. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

1
: an outgrowth of the ovary of a seed plant that after fertilization develops into a seed
2
: a small egg
especially : one in an early stage of growth

Medical Definition

ovule

noun
1
: a small egg
especially : one in an early stage of growth
The mature ovule secretes large amounts of progesterone and less estradiol leading to the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle. T. Corona et al., Women and Multiple Sclerosis
During the first half of the menstrual cycle an ovule in the ovarian follicles matures and the concentration of oestrogen hormones in the body increases. Larisa Shakhlina, IAAF New Studies in Athletics
2
: a female reproductive plant structure that develops into a seed after fertilization
Ovules are the precursors to seeds and as such are critical to plant propagation and food production.Charles S. Gasser and Debra J. Skinner, Current Topics in Developmental Biology
ovular adjective

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