monocotyledon

American  

[mon-uh-kot-l-eed-n] / ˌmɒn əˌkɒt lˈid n /

noun

Botany.

1. an angiospermous plant of the class Monocotyledones, characterized by producing seeds with one cotyledon and an endogenous manner of growth.

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monocotyledon British  

/ ˌmɒnəʊˌkɒtɪˈliːdən /

noun

1. Often shortened to: monocot.  any flowering plant of the class Monocotyledonae, having a single embryonic seed leaf, leaves with parallel veins, and flowers with parts in threes: includes grasses, lilies, palms, and orchids Compare dicotyledon

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monocotyledon Scientific  

/ mŏn′ə-kŏt′l-ēd′n /

1. Any of a class of angiosperm plants having a single cotyledon in the seed. Monocotyledons have leaves with parallel veins, flower parts in multiples of three, and fibrous root systems. Their primary vascular bundles are scattered throughout the stem, not arranged in a ring as in eudicotyledons. Grasses, palms, lilies, irises, and orchids are monocotyledons.

2. See more at leaf Compare eudicotyledon

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Other Word Forms

• monocotyledonous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of monocotyledon

From New Latin, dating back to 1720–30; see origin at mono-, cotyledon

Compare meaning

How does monocotyledon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• monocotyledon vs. dicotyledon