parthenocarpy

[pahr-thuh-noh-kahr-pee]

noun

Botany.

1. the production of fruit without fertilization of an egg in the ovary.

parthenocarpy

/ pɑːˈθiːnəʊˌkɑːpɪ /

noun

1. the development of fruit without fertilization or formation of seeds

parthenocarpy

1. The production of fruit without fertilization. Many varieties of the common fig produce fruit through parthenocarpy.

Other Word Forms

• parthenocarpic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parthenocarpy¹

1910–15; partheno- + -carpy; -carp, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of parthenocarpy¹

C20: from Greek parthenos virgin + karpos fruit