ovary

American  

[oh-vuh-ree] / ˈoʊ və ri /

noun

plural

ovaries

1. Anatomy, Zoology. the female gonad or reproductive gland, in which the ova and the hormones that regulate female secondary sex characteristics develop.

2. Botany. the enlarged lower part of the pistil in angiospermous plants, enclosing the ovules or young seeds.

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ovary British  

/ ˈəʊvərɪ, əʊˈvɛərɪən /

noun

1. either of the two female reproductive organs, which produce ova and secrete oestrogen hormones

2. the corresponding organ in vertebrate and invertebrate animals

3. botany the hollow basal region of a carpel containing one or more ovules. In some plants the carpels are united to form a single compound ovary

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ovary Scientific  

/ ō′və-rē /

1. The reproductive organ in female animals that produces eggs and the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. In most vertebrate animals, the ovaries occur in pairs. In mammals, the ovaries contain numerous follicles, which house the developing eggs (oocytes).

2. See more at menstrual cycle ovulation

3. The part of a carpel or of a gynoecium made of fused carpels that contains the ovules in a flower. The ovary is located at the base of the carpel and ripens into a fruit after fertilization of one or more of the ovules.

4. See more at flower

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Other Word Forms

• ovarian adjective
• pseudovary noun

Etymology

Origin of ovary

First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin ōvārium; ovum, -ary

Example Sentences

In October 2021, Barnett, then 40, said it was a "complete shock" to be sent into surgical menopause overnight, and was required to have her ovaries removed.

From BBC

None of that mattered when she missed her performance target in 2018 after taking time off for surgery to remove two large cysts on her ovaries.

From BBC

Five-year survival data analysed by the charity shows the UK consistently lags behind on cancers of the stomach, colon, pancreas, ovaries and lungs.

From BBC

Removing the ovaries, which stops ovarian hormone production, also extended lifespan.

From Science Daily

Endometriosis occurs when tissue like the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as ovaries, fallopian tubes and other organs.

From BBC