cotyledon

noun cot·y·le·don \ˌkä-tə-ˈlē-d^ən\

Definition of COTYLEDON

: a lobule of the mammalian placenta

: the first leaf or one of the first pair or whorl of leaves developed by the embryo of a seed plant or of some lower plants (as ferns)

— cot·y·le·don·ary \-ˈlē-də-ˌner-ē\ adjective

See cotyledon defined for kids

New Latin, from Greek kotylēdōn cup-shaped hollow, from kotylē cup, anything hollow

First Known Use: 1540

Medical Dictionary

noun cot·y·le·don \ˌkät-^əl-ˈēd-^ən\

: a lobule of a mammalian placenta

: the first leaf or one of the first pair or whorl of leaves developed by the embryo of a seed plant or of some lower plants (as ferns)

—cot·y·le·don·ary \-ˈēd-^ən-ˌer-ē\ adjective

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