ovary
UK: ˈəʊvəri | US: ˈoʊvəri
n. The female reproductive organ in vertebrates that produces eggs and hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
n. (Botany) The part of a flower that contains the ovules and develops into fruit after fertilization.
The word "ovary" traces back to the Latin "ovarium" (egg-holder), derived from "ovum" (egg). The morpheme "ov" preserves the core concept of eggs, reflecting its biological function in both animals (producing egg cells) and plants (housing ovules). The suffix "-ary" (from Latin "-arius") indicates association, forming a noun meaning "related to eggs." This logical construction mirrors the organ's role across species.
The surgeon removed a cyst from her left ovary.
Bees transfer pollen to the ovary of flowers during pollination.
Hormones secreted by the ovaries regulate the menstrual cycle.
In botany class, we dissected a lily to observe its ovary.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects many women of reproductive age.