telolecithy
|tel-o-le-cith-y|
🇺🇸
/ˌtɛloʊˈlɛsɪθi/
🇬🇧
/ˌtɛləʊˈlɛsɪθi/
yolk at one pole
Etymology
'telolecithy' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'telolecithus', where 'telos' meant 'end' and 'lekithos' meant 'egg yolk'.
'telolecithy' was coined in zoological and embryological literature in the late 19th century from Greek roots via New Latin and entered English scientific usage with little change.
Initially it meant 'the condition of yolk being located at the end of the egg', and over time it has retained that same technical meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the condition in which the yolk of an egg is concentrated toward one pole (end) of the ovum; yolk distribution toward one end, characteristic of many fishes and reptiles.
Many species of fish exhibit telolecithy, with a large amount of yolk concentrated at the vegetal pole of the egg.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/07 19:05