Meanings
- uncountablebiologyA form of anisogamy (heterogamy) in which the female gamete (e.g. ovum) is significantly larger than the male gamete (sperm) and is non-motile.
In the majority. motile zoospores or gametes are formed; sexual processes have evolved independently in various divisions and have included the development of oogamy.
1987, G. Robin South, A. Whittick, An Introduction to Phycology, Wiley, page 12 more examples
Isogamy is considered to be the most primitive and oogamy the most advanced type of sexual reproduction. The evolution from isogamy to oogamy through unisogamy is seen in different groups of the Chlorophyceae. Since oogamy has arisen quite independently in several groups, sometimes even within the limits of a single genus (e.g., Chlamydymonas), not much phylogenetic significance can be attached to it.
1951, Gilbert Morgan Smith, Manual of Phycology: An Introduction to the Algae and Their Biology, Chronica Botanica, page 44Throughout the process of algal and plant evolution, the mode of mating has evolved from isogamy to unisogamy, and, finally, oogamy. While all three types are seen among algae, only oogamy is found among land plants.
2014, Atsushi Sakai, “8: Generative Cells”, in Tetsuko Noguchi, Shigeyuki Kawano, Hirokazu Tsukaya, Sachihiro Matsunaga, Atsushi Sakai, Ichirou Karahara, Yasuko Hayashi, editors, Atlas of Plant Cell Structure, Springer, page 157
Origin
Translations
Finnish oogamia
- oogamiaa form of anisogamy in which the female gamete is significantly larger than the male gamete and is non-motile
French oogamie
- oogamiea form of anisogamy in which the female gamete is significantly larger than the male gamete and is non-motile
Irish úgamacht
- úgamachta form of anisogamy in which the female gamete is significantly larger than the male gamete and is non-motile
Italian oogamia
- oogamiaa form of anisogamy in which the female gamete is significantly larger than the male gamete and is non-motile
Polish oogamia
- oogamiaa form of anisogamy in which the female gamete is significantly larger than the male gamete and is non-motile
Russian оогамия
- оогамия (oogamija)a form of anisogamy in which the female gamete is significantly larger than the male gamete and is non-motile
Ukrainian оогамія
- оогамія (oohamija)a form of anisogamy in which the female gamete is significantly larger than the male gamete and is non-motile
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
oogamy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oogamy
“oogamy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oogamy. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oogamy,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oogamy.
Source: oogamy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.