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.
By the time these seedlings grow tall enough—typically six weeks before the last expected frost date—the temperature should be warm enough to plant them outdoors. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2025 Excessive heat or cold can put undue stress on seedlings, but under the right conditions, grass seedlings grow quickly. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025 Place a small fan near, not necessarily directly over, the seedling trays. Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2025 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 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 6 Apr. 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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