seedling

noun

seed·ling ˈsēd-liŋ

: a young plant grown from seed

: a young tree before it becomes a sapling

: a nursery plant not yet transplanted

seedling adjective

Examples of seedling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Plant now from seed or seedlings: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, peas, leeks, fava beans. —

Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023 This generates stronger winds that propel tree seeds farther and more snowfall that insulates seedlings from harsh winter conditions. —

David J. Cooper, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2023 For every tree felled, three seedlings are planted. —

William Booth, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2023 Green described wild pigs as opportunistic eaters that breed early, produce big litters and face no natural predators in Alabama, leaving them free to trash everything from pine seedlings to row crops. —

Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 13 Sep. 2023 Money from the sale of seedlings also is invested back into the nursery, according to Swift-Turner. —

Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023 The state's namesake apple, the Arkansas Black, dates back to 1870, when a Benton County farmer encountered an impressive seedling in his orchard. —

Nancie McDermott, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2023 Milder temperatures also allow young seedling trees in the most northern boreal forests to gain a foothold where previous conditions were too harsh for them to become established. —

David J. Cooper, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2023 Locals started growing propagules, or mangrove seedlings, in a nursery for replanting in the delta and fenced these areas off from livestock. —

James Hall, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seedling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.