oology

1 9.9

Study of eggs, especially bird eggs, and their size, shape, and color

noun
/oʊˈɑːlədʒi/

Specialized

: oología

She developed a keen interest in oology after observing various bird species in her garden.

Examples

The study of oology is fascinating.
The museum’s collection includes rare books on oology and bird conservation.
Modern oology relies on non-invasive techniques to study eggs without disturbing nests.
Many universities offer courses in oology.
Students in the oology class examined various bird eggs to learn about their characteristics.
The museum's exhibit on oology showcases eggs from different bird species and explains their unique features.
His research in oology focuses on the coloration patterns found in the eggs of endangered bird species.

Surface Forms

oology singular

oologies plural

Morphology

oology = oo + logy

The word is built from the classical combining form oo- meaning 'egg' and the learned suffix -logy 'study of', but oo- is not a transparent English morpheme for most learners.

Etymology

The word oology comes from the Greek root oo- meaning 'egg' and the ending -logy meaning 'study'. A helpful memory trick is that the two 'o's look like two eggs, so oology is the study of eggs, especially birds' eggs.