cotyledon

[ kot-l-eed-n ]

noun

, Botany.

1. the primary or rudimentary leaf of the embryo of seed plants.
2. Anatomy. any of several lobules of the placenta.

cotyledon

/ ˌkɒtɪˈliːdən /

noun

1. a simple embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, which, in some species, forms the first green leaf after germination
2. a tuft of villi on the mammalian placenta

cotyledon

/ kŏt′l-ēd′n /

1. A leaf of the embryo of a seed-bearing plant. Most cotyledons emerge, enlarge, and become green after the seed has germinated. Cotyledons either store food for the growing embryo (as in monocotyledons) or absorb food that has been stored in the endosperm (as in other angiosperms) for eventual distribution to the growing parts of the embryo.
2. Also called seed leaf
3. See more at eudicotyledon

Derived Forms

• ˌcotyˈledonous, adjective
• ˌcotyˈledonal, adjective
• ˌcotyˈledonary, adjective

Other Words From

• coty·ledon·al cot·y·le·don·ar·y [kot-l-, eed, -n-er-ee], coty·ledon·ous adjective
• noncot·y·ledon·al adjective
• noncot·y·ledon·ary adjective
• noncot·y·ledon·ous adjective
• pseudo·coty·ledon·al adjective
• pseudo·coty·ledon·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotyledon¹

1535–45; < Latin: navelwort < Greek kotylēdṓn a plant (probably navelwort), literally, a cuplike hollow, derivative of kotýlē cup

Word History and Origins

Origin of cotyledon¹

C16: from Latin: a plant, navelwort, from Greek kotulēdōn, from kotulē cup, hollow

Example Sentences

Microgreens are simply the cotyledons or seed leaves, that first emerge from a seed when it germinates.

From Salon

In five days, the “baby” cotyledon leaves were up, with the “true” notched tomato leaves following at day 10.

From Seattle Times

It typically grows there until the first true leaves appear, although robust growers may be ready for the next step when they still have only seed leaves, or cotyledons.

From Seattle Times

Embryo with a single cotyledon and the early leaves always alternate.

From Project Gutenberg

A plant which has no cotyledons, as the dodder and all flowerless plants.

From Project Gutenberg