chalaza

[ kuh-ley-zuh ]
/ kəˈleɪ zə /

noun, plural cha·la·zas, cha·la·zae [kuh-ley-zee] /kəˈleɪ zi/.

Zoology. one of the two albuminous twisted cords which fasten an egg yolk to the shell membrane.
Botany. the point of an ovule or seed where the integuments are united to the nucellus.

Origin of chalaza

1695–1705; < New Latin < Greek: hail, lump

OTHER WORDS FROM chalaza

cha·la·zal, cha·la·zi·an [kuh-ley-zee-uh n] /kəˈleɪ zi ən/, adjective

Words nearby chalaza

chakalaka, chakra, chakravartin, chal., chalasia, chalaza, chalazion, chalcanthite, chalcedon, chalcedony, chalcid

Example sentences from the Web for chalaza

British Dictionary definitions for chalaza

chalaza
/ (kəˈleɪzə) /

noun plural -zas or -zae (-ziː)

one of a pair of spiral threads of albumen holding the yolk of a bird's egg in position
the basal part of a plant ovule, where the integuments and nucellus are joined

Derived forms of chalaza

chalazal, adjective

Word Origin for chalaza

C18: New Latin, from Greek: hailstone

Scientific definitions for chalaza

chalaza
[ kə-lā′zə ]

Plural chalazae (kə-lā′zē) chalazas

One of two spiral bands of tissue in an egg that connect the yolk to the lining membrane at either end of the shell.
The region of a plant ovule that is opposite the micropyle, where the integuments and nucellus are joined.