seedling

noun

seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ How to pronounce seedling (audio)
1
: a young plant grown from seed
2
a
: a young tree before it becomes a sapling
b
: a nursery plant not yet transplanted
seedling adjective

Illustration of seedling

Illustration of seedling
  • 1 primary root
  • 2 rootlet
  • 3 root hairs
  • 4 hypocotyl
  • 5 cotyledon
  • 6 young stem
  • 7 true leaf

Examples of seedling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So, don’t let a few warm days in early spring fool you into setting out your homegrown seedlings or new plant babies from the garden center too soon. Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2025 Fisher suggests a few tips for ensuring strong seedlings: mist the seedlings regularly, keep them on seedling mats while germinating, and use a UV light positioned about two inches above the seedlings to prevent them from becoming too tall and weak. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2025 That was the year when Fred Popenoe, proprietor of the West India Gardens nursery in Altadena, sent an emissary to Mexico with the task of bringing back budwood cuttings for the purpose of grafting them onto avocado seedlings, with the hope that some would become commercially successful varieties. Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 1 Feb. 2025 The animals' digging aerates the soil, promotes water filtration and helps seedlings germinate, which in turn benefits other species. Erin Clack, People.com, 26 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for seedling

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of seedling was in 1629

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Cite this Entry

“Seedling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seedling. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

seedling

noun
seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ How to pronounce seedling (audio)
1
: a young plant grown from seed
2
: a tree before it becomes a sapling
seedling adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on seedling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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