Illustration of seedling
- 1 primary root
- 2 rootlet
- 3 root hairs
- 4 hypocotyl
- 5 cotyledon
- 6 epicotyl
- 7 true leaf
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
Examples of seedling in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By the time warm-season grasses germinate in late spring, annual grassy weeds have taken hold and outcompete the young seedlings.
—
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2025
Its geometry channels airflow, moderates sunlight, and slows the evaporation of moisture, creating a sheltered pocket of climate around the seedling.
—New Atlas, 20 Nov. 2025
In one of the most polluted corners of Brooklyn, a nursery of seedlings thrives beneath the Kosciuszko Bridge, supplying native plants to local parks and community gardens to help neighbors connect with nature.
—Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
The Vallonia nursery tries to buy about 11 million seeds each year with an eye towards hitting the goal of 3 million healthy seedlings that will mature enough to sell, That 3 million number, however, is just a guess, Winks said.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seedling
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Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2025
Its geometry channels airflow, moderates sunlight, and slows the evaporation of moisture, creating a sheltered pocket of climate around the seedling.
—New Atlas, 20 Nov. 2025
In one of the most polluted corners of Brooklyn, a nursery of seedlings thrives beneath the Kosciuszko Bridge, supplying native plants to local parks and community gardens to help neighbors connect with nature.
—Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
The Vallonia nursery tries to buy about 11 million seeds each year with an eye towards hitting the goal of 3 million healthy seedlings that will mature enough to sell, That 3 million number, however, is just a guess, Winks said.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seedling
Cite this Entry
“Seedling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seedling. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seedling
noun
seed·ling
ˈsēd-liŋ 
1
: a young plant grown from seed
2
: a tree before it becomes a sapling
seedling
adjective
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