ovary

[oh-vuh-ree] /ˈoʊ və ri/
noun, plural ovaries.
1.
Anatomy, Zoology. the female gonad or reproductive gland, in which the ova and the hormones that regulate female secondary sex characteristics develop.
2.
Botany. the enlarged lower part of the pistil in angiospermous plants, enclosing the ovules or young seeds.
Origin
1650-60; < Neo-Latin ōvārium. See ovum, -ary
Related forms
pseudovary, noun, plural pseudovaries.
Examples from the web for ovary
  • In this particular case, a protein needed by anemia patients was produced in hamster ovary cells.
  • Your egg has a comfy little home inside the ovary that provides it all the things a growing egg needs.
  • In many cases, ovarian cancer fails to manifest any symptoms until it has spread into tissue outside the ovary.
  • In essence, they're hoping to turn the petri dish into an artificial ovary.
  • Once the egg has left the ovary it can be fertilized and implant itself in the lining of the uterus.
  • About every month after menstruation starts, an ovary releases an egg, called an ovum.
  • The ovary is inferior, developing below the petals and sepals.
British Dictionary definitions for ovary

ovary

/ˈəʊvərɪ/
noun (pl) -ries
1.
either of the two female reproductive organs, which produce ova and secrete oestrogen hormones
2.
the corresponding organ in vertebrate and invertebrate animals
3.
(botany) the hollow basal region of a carpel containing one or more ovules. In some plants the carpels are united to form a single compound ovary
Derived Forms
ovarian (əʊˈvɛərɪən) adjective
Word Origin
C17: from New Latin ōvārium, from Latin ōvum egg
Word Origin and History for ovary
n.

1650s, from Modern Latin ovarium "ovary" (16c.), from Medieval Latin ovaria "the ovary of a bird" (13c.), from Latin ovum "egg," from PIE *owyo-/*oyyo- "egg" (see egg (n.)). In classical Latin, ovarius meant "egg-keeper."

ovary in Medicine

ovary o·va·ry (ō'və-rē)
n.
One of the paired female reproductive organs that produce ova and certain sex hormones, including estrogen. Also called oophoron.

o·var'i·an (ō-vâr'ē-ən) adj.
ovary in Science
ovary
(ō'və-rē)

  1. The reproductive organ in female animals that produces eggs and the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. In most vertebrate animals, the ovaries occur in pairs. In mammals, the ovaries contain numerous follicles, which house the developing eggs (oocytes). See more at menstrual cycle, ovulation.

  2. The part of a carpel or of a gynoecium made of fused carpels that contains the ovules in a flower. The ovary is located at the base of the carpel and ripens into a fruit after fertilization of one or more of the ovules. See more at flower.


ovarian adjective (ō-vâr'ē-ən)