nectary

American  

[nek-tuh-ree] / ˈnɛk tə ri /

noun

plural

nectaries

1. Botany. an organ or part that secretes nectar.

2. Entomology. a cornicle (formerly thought to secrete honeydew).

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nectary British  

/ ˈnɛktərɪ, nɛkˈtɛərɪəl /

noun

1. any of various glandular structures secreting nectar that occur in the flowers, leaves, stipules, etc, of a plant

2. any of the abdominal tubes in aphids through which honeydew is secreted

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Other Word Forms

• nectarial adjective
• nectaried adjective

Etymology

Origin of nectary

From the New Latin word nectarium, dating back to 1590–1600. See nectar, -y ³

Example Sentences

The flowers expand, and a set of vessels pour into the cup or nectary a minute portion of honey.

From Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained by Quinby, M. (Moses)

Anthers seated on the 15 teeth of the nectary.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers

Let us suppose a flower whose nectary chances to be only six inches in length.

From My Studio Neighbors by Gibson, William Hamilton

Nectā′rial; Nectarif′erous, producing nectar or honey: having a nectary; Nec′tarine, sweet as nectar.—n. a variety of peach with a smooth fruit.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

There is a Madagascar Orchis—the Angræcum sesquipedale—with an immensely long and deep nectary.

From Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection A Series of Essays by Wallace, Alfred Russel