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

Both modern and vintage cloches are intended to be slipped over the top of plants, soil planted with seeds, and seedlings, so that the plants are fully covered and the cloche base sits directly on the soil. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025

The first book tells the full story of how the director’s most recent film came to be, from Tarantino’s seedling of an idea after seeing a stunt double and actor chat it up on-set, to the film’s FYC campaign during the 2020 awards season. —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025

Thin out the seedlings so there is one per pot. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025

For instance, following Hurricane Michael, the Eastman Foundation and GP Cellulose collaborated with The Longleaf Alliance to give 60,000 longleaf pine seedlings to help restore Torreya State Park in Florida. —Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 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