oogamy
|oo-ga-my|
/ˈuː.əɡəmi/
egg + union (unequal gametes)
Etymology
'oogamy' originates from New Latin 'oogamia', ultimately from Greek elements 'ōion' meaning 'egg' and 'gamos' meaning 'marriage' or 'union'.
'oogamy' was formed from New Latin 'oogamia' (used in scientific/biological contexts), which itself adapted Greek components; this New Latin term entered scientific English as 'oogamy'.
Initially built from elements meaning 'egg' + 'marriage/union', the term has come to refer specifically to the biological condition in which gametes are markedly unequal (large egg and small sperm).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a form of sexual reproduction in which there is a marked difference between the two gametes: a large, usually non-motile egg and a much smaller, typically motile sperm; fertilization involves fusion of these dissimilar gametes.
Oogamy is typical of most animals, where a small sperm fertilizes a large egg.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/06 20:43