cotyledon

[ kot-l-eed-n ]

noun

, Botany.

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

cotyledon

/ ˌkɒtɪˈliːdən /

noun

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

cotyledon

/ kŏt′l-ēd′n /

1. 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.
2. Also called seed leaf
3. See more at eudicotyledon

Derived Forms

• ˌcotyˈledonary, adjective
• ˌcotyˈledonal, adjective
• ˌcotyˈledonous, adjective

Other Words From

• coty·ledon·al cot·y·le·don·ar·y [kot-l-, eed, -n-er-ee], coty·ledon·ous adjective
• noncot·y·ledon·al adjective
• noncot·y·ledon·ary adjective
• noncot·y·ledon·ous adjective
• pseudo·coty·ledon·al adjective
• pseudo·coty·ledon·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotyledon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotyledon¹

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

Example Sentences

The term monocotyledon is applied to these plants because the embryo has only one cotyledon or seed-leaf.

From Project Gutenberg

A bristle was gummed to one cotyledon, and beyond it a triangular bit of card was fixed, and in front a vertical glass.

From Project Gutenberg

Within the cotyledon will be found a little growing shoot pointed toward the top of the kernel.

From Project Gutenberg

In Wheat and Oats the cotyledon can be easily seen in the largest seedlings by pulling off the dry husk of the grain.

From Project Gutenberg

Closely applied to one side of this, so closely that it is difficult to separate it perfectly, is the single cotyledon.

From Project Gutenberg