caryopsis

noun

cary·​op·​sis ˌker-ē-ˈäp-səs 

ˌka-rē-

plural caryopses ˌker-ē-ˈäp-ˌsēz 

ˌka-rē-

also caryopsides ˌker-ē-ˈäp-sə-ˌdēz 

ˌka-rē-

: a small one-seeded dry indehiscent fruit (as of corn or wheat) in which the fruit and seed fuse in a single grain

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

But in corn's case, each kernel is what's called a caryopsis, basically a type of dry fruit where the ovary wall and the seed coat are fused into one layer. —Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 7 Dec. 2018

No Strictly botanically speaking, grains describe caryopses (a.k.a. —Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 10 Dec. 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above