noun / verb

seed

SEED/siːd/

A plant's reproductive body capable of new growth.

The opened bean seed reveals a tiny shoot and root inside.

A close-up of an intact bean seed beside a carefully opened bean seed, exposing its protective seed coat, fleshy cotyledon and tiny embryonic shoot and root.

Etymology

Old English sæd named an individual grain or something that could be sown. The modern botanical sense describes that same planting material in terms of its embryo and protective covering.

In context

UF / IFAS Extension Pinellas County56:24

the baby tree is inside the seed and if that seed lands someplace good it's going to germinate and here comes a new tree

Botanical Science for Beginners

More examples

She plants tomato seeds in small pots.
That conversation plants the seed of a new friendship.
He seeds the peppers before chopping them.

Forms

seed · seeds · seeded · seeding

seedling noun — A young plant grown from a seed.

seedless adjective — Having no seeds inside it.

Similar words

grain: Usually a cereal seed, especially one harvested for food.
kernel: Often the edible inner part, rather than the whole seed.