Ovum

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Ovum \O"vum\ ([=o]"v[u^]m), n.; pl. L. {Ova} ([=o]"v[.a]), E.
     {Ovums} ([=o]"v[u^]mz). [L., an egg. See {Oval}.]
     1. (Biol.) A more or less spherical and transparent cell,
        which by a process of multiplication and growth develops
        into a mass of cells, constituting a new individual like
        the parent; an egg, spore, germ, or germ cell. See Illust.


        of {Mycropyle}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The ovum is a typical cell, with a cell wall, cell
           substance, nucleus, and nucleolus. In man and the
           higher animals the cell wall, a vertically striated
           membrane, is called the zona pellucida; the cell
           contents, the vitellus; the nucleus, the germinal
           vesicle; and the nucleolus, the germinal spot. The
           diameter of the ripe ovum in man and the domestic
           animals varies between 1-200 and 1-120 of an inch.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Arch.) One of the series of egg-shaped ornaments into
        which the ovolo is often carved. --Gwilt.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ovum
       n : the female reproductive cell; the female gamete [syn: {egg
           cell}]
       [also: {ova} (pl)]