What does ovule mean?
An ovule is a small structure in a flower or other seed plant that contains the female reproductive cells. It is part of the plant's reproductive anatomy and is commonly found within an ovary. When pollination is followed by fertilization, the ovule develops into a seed, while the ovary often develops into a fruit surrounding it. The word is primarily technical, appearing in botany, horticulture, agriculture, and biology. For gardeners and plant scientists, understanding ovules is important because they are directly connected to fertilization, seed formation, and crop reproduction. Although an ovule can be described informally as a plant's egg, it is not simply an egg cell: it is the structure that contains and protects the female gamete and later supports the development of the embryo.
nounA small, egg-shaped structure in a flower or other plant, containing the female reproductive cells. After fertilization, an ovule develops into a seed.
- A structure in flowering plants and other seed plants that contains the female reproductive cells and develops into a seed after fertilization.
"Each ovule contains an egg cell that can develop into an embryo."
"The botanist examined the ovules of the flower under a microscope."
"A newly fertilized ovule begins developing into a seed."
Used when referring to more than one ovule, especially when describing the reproductive structures of a plant.
"The flower contains several ovules, each capable of developing into a seed."
An ovule is a plant's egg-bearing package: after fertilization, it can become the seed that carries the next generation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ovule come from?
The word comes through Latin from ovulum, a diminutive of ovum, meaning “egg.” English borrowed the Latin form in the 16th century, initially with reference to the eggs of birds and other animals, and botanical use for the reproductive structures of plants became established later. Related English words include ovary, ovate, and ovum, all reflecting the same Latin root for egg.
Related word forms
How ovule is actually used
A technical botanical term, used especially in discussions of flowers, pollination, fertilization, and seed development. In older or more general contexts, the term was sometimes used metaphorically or figuratively for an egg.
Easily confused with ovule
An ovule is the plant structure that contains the female reproductive cells, whereas an ovum is the egg cell itself.
An ovary is the organ in which ovules develop, while an ovule is one of the individual structures inside it.