oviposition

[ oh-vuh-puh-zish-uhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of depositing or laying eggs, especially by means of an ovipositor:

   At oviposition, the turtle's eggs pass between the bones of her pelvis into the sandy hole she has dug.

Word History and Origins

Origin of oviposition¹

First recorded in 1800–10; ovi- ( def ) + position ( def )

Example Sentences

When the business of oviposition commences, they take the eggs from her, and deposit them in their nurseries.

From Project Gutenberg

The peristaltic motion observed in the females of some insects during oviposition has been before described.

From Project Gutenberg

There is continual oviposition, the queen laying over eighty thousand eggs in twenty-four hours, or one egg every second.

From Project Gutenberg

There are thus two female openings, one for copulation, the other for oviposition, as well as a male opening.

From Project Gutenberg

Having finished their home, only a day or so intervenes when oviposition becomes the controlling instinct.

From Project Gutenberg