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Glite Dictionary
micropyle

micropyle

9.9
A tiny opening in a plant seed that lets pollen enter during fertilization
  • noun
  • /ˈmaɪkroʊˌpaɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : micropilo
  • The micropyle allows pollen to enter the ovule.

Examples

  • Damage to the micropyle can prevent successful fertilization in many flowering plants.

  • The pollen tube enters the ovule through the micropyle during the process of fertilization.

  • Scientists observed the location of the micropyle under a microscope to study plant reproduction.

  • In flowering plants, the micropyle plays a crucial role.

  • In flowering plants, the micropyle allows the pollen tube to enter the ovule during fertilization.

  • The micropyle is a tiny opening that facilitates the entry of the pollen tube into the ovule.

  • During fertilization, the pollen tube passes through the micropyle to reach the egg cell.

Surface Forms

micropyle singular
micropyles plural

Morphology

micropyle = micro + pyle

The word is technically compositional as micro- plus the Greek combining form pyle ('opening'), but pyle is not a productive everyday English morpheme, so the meaning is only partly transparent.

Etymology

The word micropyle comes from the Greek parts micro- 'small' and pyle 'gate'. So a micropyle is like a 'tiny gate' in the ovule where the pollen tube can enter, which explains its role in plant fertilization.