parthenocarpy

[ pahr-thuh-noh-kahr-pee ]

/ ˈpɑr θə noʊˌkɑr pi /

noun Botany.

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

Nearby words

parted per tierce, partera, parterre, parthenia, partheno-, parthenocarpy, parthenogenesis, parthenogenone, parthenon, parthenopaeus, parthenope

Origin of parthenocarpy

1910–15; partheno- + -carpy; see -carp, -y³

Related forms

par·the·no·car·pic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for parthenocarpy

parthenocarpy

/ (pɑːˈθiːnəʊˌkɑːpɪ) /

noun

the development of fruit without fertilization or formation of seeds

Derived Forms

parthenocarpic or parthenocarpous, adjective

Word Origin for parthenocarpy

C20: from Greek parthenos virgin + karpos fruit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for parthenocarpy

parthenocarpy

[ pär′thə-nō-kär′pē ]

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