nucellus

noun

nu·cel·lus nü-ˈse-ləs

nyü-

plural nucelli nü-ˈse-ˌlī

nyü-

: the central and chief part of a plant ovule that encloses the female gametophyte

nucellar

nü-ˈse-lər

nyü-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin nucella small nut, from nuc-, nux nut — more at nut

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of nucellus was in 1882

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Entries

nucament

nucellus

nucha

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nucellus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nucellus. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

'In Vino Veritas' and Other Latin Phrases to Live By

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

Popular Features

nucellus

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on nucellus

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

factoid

Popular in Grammar & Usage