noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   In seed-bearing plants, a small opening in the integuments of the ovule through which sperm are able to access the ovum.
2. 2
   minute opening in the wall of an ovule through which the pollen tube enters wordnet
3. 3
   The hilum of an ovum at the point of attachment to the ovary; any opening in the coverings of an ovum by which spermatozoa may find entrance.

Antonyms

All antonyms

chalaza

Etymology

From French, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) + πύλη (púlē, “gate”).

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.