1
: an outgrowth of the ovary of a seed plant that is a megasporangium and encloses an embryo sac within a nucellus
2
: a small egg
especially : one in an early stage of growth

Example Sentences

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 example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ovule.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 26 Mar. 2023.

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
ˈäv-(ˌ)yü(ə)l also ˈōv-
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
ovular adjective

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