cotyledon

[ kot-l-eed-n ]
/ ˌkɒt lˈid n /

noun Botany.

the primary or rudimentary leaf of the embryo of seed plants.
Anatomy. any of several lobules of the placenta.

Origin of cotyledon

1535–45; < Latin: navelwort < Greek kotylēdṓn a plant (probably navelwort), literally, a cuplike hollow, derivative of kotýlē cup

OTHER WORDS FROM cotyledon

Example sentences from the Web for cotyledonary

British Dictionary definitions for cotyledonary

cotyledon
/ (ˌkɒtɪˈliːdən) /

noun

a simple embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, which, in some species, forms the first green leaf after germination
a tuft of villi on the mammalian placenta

Derived forms of cotyledon

cotyledonous or cotyledonoid, adjective cotyledonal, adjective cotyledonary, adjective

Word Origin for cotyledon

C16: from Latin: a plant, navelwort, from Greek kotulēdōn, from kotulē cup, hollow

Medical definitions for cotyledonary

cotyledon
[ kŏt′l-ēdn ]

n.

One of the lobules constituting the uterine side of the placenta, consisting mainly of a rounded mass of villi.
A leaf of the embryo of a seed plant, which, upon germination, either remains in the seed or emerges, enlarges, and becomes green; a seed leaf.

Scientific definitions for cotyledonary

cotyledon
[ kŏt′l-ēdn ]

A leaf of the embryo of a seed-bearing plant. Most cotyledons emerge, enlarge, and become green after the seed has germinated. Cotyledons either store food for the growing embryo (as in monocotyledons) or absorb food that has been stored in the endosperm (as in other angiosperms) for eventual distribution to the growing parts of the embryo. Also called seed leaf See more at eudicotyledon monocotyledon.