micropyle

M3I1C3R1O1P3Y4L1E1
UK/ˈmaɪ.kɹəʊˌpaɪl/US/ˈmaɪ.kɹoʊˌpaɪl/

noun

In seed-bearing plants, a small opening in the integuments of the ovule through which sperm are able to access the ovum.

OriginAncient Greek μικρός →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounmicropyle (plural micropyles)

plural micropyles

  1. biologyIn seed-bearing plants, a small opening in the integuments of the ovule through which sperm are able to access the ovum.
  2. biologyThe hilum of an ovum at the point of attachment to the ovary; any opening in the coverings of an ovum by which spermatozoa may find entrance.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμικρός“small”
  2. Englishmicropyle

From French, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) + πύλη (púlē, “gate”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish siitereikä
  • siitereikäbotany
French micropyle
  • micropylebotany
Polish mikropyl
  • mikropylbotany
Turkish kapıcık
  • kapıcıkbotany

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

polymericcoprimely
Cite this entry
APA

micropyle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/micropyle

MLA

“micropyle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/micropyle. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “micropyle,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/micropyle.

Source: micropyle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.