nucellus

[ noo-sel-uh s, nyoo- ]
/ nuˈsɛl əs, nyu- /

noun, plural nu·cel·li [noo-sel-ahy, nyoo-] /nuˈsɛl aɪ, nyu-/. Botany.

the central cellular mass of the body of the ovule, containing the embryo sac.

Origin of nucellus

1880–85; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin nuc- (stem of nux) nut + -ella -elle

OTHER WORDS FROM nucellus

nu·cel·lar, adjective

Words nearby nucellus

nubian desert, nubian goat, nubile, nubilous, nubuck, nucellus, nucflash, nucha, nuchal ligament, nuchal plane, nuci-

Example sentences from the Web for nucellus

British Dictionary definitions for nucellus

nucellus
/ (njuːˈsɛləs) /

noun plural -li (-laɪ)

the central part of a plant ovule containing the embryo sac

Derived forms of nucellus

nucellar, adjective

Word Origin for nucellus

C19: New Latin, from Latin nucella, from nux nut

Scientific definitions for nucellus

nucellus
[ nōō-sĕl′əs ]

Plural nucelli (nōō-sĕl′ī)

The megasporangium of a seed-bearing plant, located in the ovule. In angiosperms, it is the central portion of the ovule in which the embryo sac develops. In some cases of apomixis (production of seeds without fertilization), cells of the nucellus develop into an embryo.