apical dominance


nounBotany.
  1. suppression of the development of lateral buds in a growing plant shoot, caused by hormones produced in the tip of the shoot.

Origin of apical dominance

1
First recorded in 1945–50

Words Nearby apical dominance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Scientific definitions for apical dominance

apical dominance

[ āpĭ-kəl, ăpĭ- ]


  1. Inhibition of the growth of lateral buds by the terminal bud of a plant shoot. In most plants, apical dominance results from the release of auxin by the apical meristem.

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