seedling

noun

seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ 

1

: a young plant grown from seed

2

a

: a young tree before it becomes a sapling

b

: a nursery plant not yet transplanted

seedling adjective

Illustration of seedling

• 1 primary root
• 2 rootlet
• 3 root hairs
• 4 hypocotyl
• 5 cotyledon
• 6 young stem
• 7 true leaf

Examples of seedling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the Texas Invasive Species Institute, snail damage in uncontrolled fields can be as high as 100 percent for rice seedlings in the germinating stage. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2025

Without daily watering, new seedlings and sod will quickly die. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2025

In the years between seedlings and harvest, a portion of the acres will have been lost to fires, floods, insects and disease. —William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Use floating row covers over seedlings and susceptible crops such as eggplants, which can be decimated by flea beetles. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seedling

• needling

Kids Definition

seedling

noun

seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ 

1

: a young plant grown from seed

2

: a tree before it becomes a sapling

seedling adjective