oviposit

[ oh-vuh-poz-it, oh-vuh-poz- ]

verb (used without object)

1. to deposit or lay eggs, especially by means of an ovipositor.

Other Words From

• o·vi·po·si·tion [oh-v, uh, -p, uh, -, zish, -, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oviposit¹

First recorded in 1810–20; ovi- + -posit, from Latin positus ( posit )

Example Sentences

Adults live for only a few hours, during which they mate and oviposit.

From Nature

Having attempted, unsuccessfully, to eat or oviposit in the seeds, it seems that the beetles quietly accepted the deception and moved on with their lives.

From The New Yorker

Having attempted, unsuccessfully, to eat or oviposit in the seeds, it seems that the beetles quietly accepted the deception and moved on with their lives.

From The New Yorker

The species which oviposit on larger plants or trees are inclosed in a gauze bag tied over the branch.

From Project Gutenberg

They may frequently be taken about tree trunks, or burrowing with their long gimlet-like ovipositors into the trunks of trees to oviposit.

From Project Gutenberg