ovule

noun

ˈä-(ˌ)vyül  ˈō- 

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

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

Kids Definition

ovule

noun

ˈäv-(ˌ)yü(ə)l  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

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

-yə-lər 

adjective