Definition of cotyledon in US English:

noun

• An embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first leaves to appear from a germinating seed.

  Example sentences

  • ‘Mutants of this class display shortened hypocotyls and small cotyledons after irradiation of seed.’
  • ‘The cotyledons are the ‘seed leaves’ produced by the embryo.’
  • ‘The layer between seed coat and cotyledon probably includes the wall of the embryo sac.’
  • ‘However, protein biosynthesis in the axis organs and cotyledons of dicotyledonous seeds commences much earlier.’
  • ‘They are present on the stems, leaves, cotyledons, rachises, pedicles, bracts and calyces.’

  Synonyms

  frond

  View synonyms