ovipositor

American  

[oh-vuh-poz-i-ter] / ˌoʊ vəˈpɒz ɪ tər /

noun

1. (in certain female insects) an organ at the end of the abdomen, by which eggs are deposited.

2. a similar organ in other animals, as certain fishes.

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ovipositor British  

/ ˌəʊvɪˈpɒzɪtə /

noun

1. the egg-laying organ of most female insects, consisting of a pair of specialized appendages at the end of the abdomen

2. a similar organ in certain female fishes, formed by an extension of the edges of the genital opening

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ovipositor Scientific  

/ ō′və-pŏz′ĭ-tər /

1. A tube in many female insects that extends from the end of the abdomen and is used to lay eggs.

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Etymology

Origin of ovipositor

First recorded in 1810–20; oviposit + -or ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ovipositor

Detailed analysis showed that C. praecursor possessed an ovipositor and a terminal caudal filament.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

When a predator dares get too close to a female wasp, she can use her ovipositor — her egg-laying tube organ — to deliver a painful, venomous jab.

From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2022

Next, they align the female’s ovipositor with the male’s pouch opening so the female can deposit her eggs.

From Science Magazine ● Sep. 23, 2021

While this is extremely unlikely, Cooley said, it could happen in one of two ways — with the beak or the ovipositor.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 1, 2021

Among such insects are the sawflies, so-called because the female has a saw-shaped ovipositor with which she slits open the needles of evergreen trees in order to deposit her eggs.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

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