carpels
|car-pel|
🇺🇸
/ˈkɑːr.pəl/
🇬🇧
/ˈkɑː.pəl/
(carpel)
female, ovary-bearing unit of a flower
Etymology
'carpel' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'carpellum', where 'carp-' meant 'fruit' (from Greek 'karpos').
'carpellum' derived from Greek 'karpos' ('fruit') through Latin/New Latin botanical usage and was adopted into English botanical terminology as 'carpel' in the early 19th century.
Initially it referred to a small fruit or fruit-related structure, but over time it evolved to refer specifically to the female reproductive unit of a flower.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the female reproductive unit of a flower, consisting of an ovary, a style, and a stigma; one or more carpels may be separate or fused to form a pistil.
The carpels of this flower are fused to form a compound pistil.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a modified leaf (megasporophyll) that bears ovules and, after fertilization, may develop into a fruit or part of a fruit.
Each carpel contains ovules that develop into seeds.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/10 19:46