seedling
UK: ˈsiːdlɪŋ | US: ˈsiːdlɪŋ
n. a young plant grown from a seed
n. a young tree before it reaches full growth
The word "seedling" combines "seed," derived from Old English "sǣd," meaning the reproductive unit of a plant, with the suffix "-ling," from Old English "-ling," denoting something small or young. This formation logically describes a young plant in its early growth stage, directly linking the origin (seed) to its developmental state (young). The suffix "-ling" is also seen in words like "duckling" (young duck) and "sapling" (young tree), reinforcing the pattern of indicating youth or diminutiveness.
The gardener carefully transplanted the seedling into a larger pot.
Each seedling in the nursery was labeled with its species name.
It takes about two weeks for the seedling to sprout its first true leaves.
Strong winds can damage a fragile seedling if it’s not protected.
She watered the tomato seedling daily to ensure healthy growth.