egg-cell

A scientist examines an egg-cell under a microscope.

Definition

1. Noun (Biology):
   • Female reproductive cell: An "egg-cell" is a specialized cell in the female reproductive system of animals and plants that, when fertilized by a male sperm cell, develops into a new organism. It is also known as an ovum (plural: ova).

Usage Examples

• (The female reproductive cell is large and can be seen without a microscope.)
• (The union of sperm and egg-cell starts the development of an embryo.)
• (The egg-cell carries one set of chromosomes from the mother.)

Advanced Usage

• "Egg-cell donation": The process of providing egg-cells from a donor to a recipient for fertility treatment.

  • She decided to undergo egg-cell donation to help a friend have a child. (She donated her female reproductive cells for assisted reproduction.)

• "Egg-cell maturation": The biological process by which an egg-cell develops and becomes ready for fertilization.

  • Hormonal changes trigger egg-cell maturation in the ovaries. (Hormones cause the female reproductive cell to mature.)

Variants and Related Words

• Egg (n): the oval or round object laid by a female bird, reptile, fish, or insect, containing a developing embryo; also used informally to refer to a female reproductive cell.
  • The hen laid a single egg this morning. (A bird's egg containing an embryo.)
• Egg-cell membrane (n): the outer covering of the egg-cell that protects it and regulates entry of sperm.
  • The egg-cell membrane prevents multiple sperm from entering. (The protective layer of the female reproductive cell.)

Synonyms

• Ovum: the technical term for an egg-cell in animals.
  • The ovum is released from the ovary during ovulation. (The egg-cell is discharged from the ovary.)
• Female gamete: a general term for the reproductive cell produced by a female organism.
  • The female gamete fuses with the male gamete during fertilization. (The egg-cell combines with the sperm cell.)

Related Idioms

• Put all your eggs in one basket: to risk everything on a single venture (not directly related to egg-cell, but uses "egg" in a common idiom).
  • Don't put all your eggs in one basket by investing only in one stock. (Do not rely on a single plan or resource.)

Phrasal Verbs

• No phrasal verbs exist specifically for "egg-cell" due to its specialized biological nature. However, the base word "egg" appears in:
  • Egg on: to encourage or urge someone to do something, often something risky or foolish.

    • His friends egged him on to jump into the cold pool. (They encouraged him to take the action.)