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
The seedlings and saplings are mostly knee-high to chest-high and mixed with thickets of ceanothus and other post-fire brush growing amid the true giants that stand dead among them.
—
Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Speight recommends providing bottom heat to help your seedlings germinate by placing seed trays over a heat mat, on top of a refrigerator, or over a vent.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
When subject to environmental extremes, such as excessive heat or cold, seedlings can struggle to establish, but under the right conditions, grass seedlings grow quite quickly.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Check your seedlings daily and pinch out intruders.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for seedling
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Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Speight recommends providing bottom heat to help your seedlings germinate by placing seed trays over a heat mat, on top of a refrigerator, or over a vent.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
When subject to environmental extremes, such as excessive heat or cold, seedlings can struggle to establish, but under the right conditions, grass seedlings grow quite quickly.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Check your seedlings daily and pinch out intruders.
—Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for seedling
Cite this Entry
“Seedling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seedling. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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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