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

The light also features a clamp design, which provides even more flexible lighting direction for your seedlings. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Apr. 2025

The Best Ways To Remove Dandelions Some dandelion seedlings inevitably get through your first lines of defense. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025

Germinate them in the shade and, when setting the bucket in a sunny exposure, cover with hardware cloth to prevent avian predations on the seedlings. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2025

Jon Dale peeks inside a plastic tube that shelters a native seedling at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. —Laura Mallonee, Wired News, 12 Apr. 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