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ovule

ovule, egg cell

noun oh-VUL Rare
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: Latin ovulum, diminutive of ovum 'egg'

Also means

ovule (botany)

Usage Note

Ovule is used in both biology (the female gamete in reproduction) and botany (the seed precursor in a flower). In human anatomy, the everyday synonym is ovocyte; ovule is the slightly more accessible term used in school science. Note the masculine gender, which surprises many learners.

Examples

"L'ovule est fécondé par le spermatozoïde."

Natural Translation

The egg cell is fertilised by the sperm.

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