Definition

A type of cell that develops from a germ cell and eventually becomes an egg cell in the ovary, or a reproductive structure in some plants and fungi that contains egg cells.

Example

The oogonium in the algae is responsible for producing the female gametes.

Conversation

I was reading about plant reproduction, and I came across the term oogonium yesterday.

Oh really? What does it mean exactly?

It's a female reproductive structure in some algae, like a sac that contains oospheres.

That sounds interesting! I didn't know plants had such specific terms.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Oogonium → It is formed from "oo-" (from Greek "oon", meaning egg) and "-gonium" (from Greek "gonia", meaning angle or corner). The word refers to a cell that is involved in the formation of eggs, thus relating to the concept of egg formation.

Memory Tip

Think of 'oo-' as relating to 'egg' in Greek, and '-gonium' suggesting a structure or cell. This helps you remember that an oogonium is a cell involved in egg formation.

Visually Confused Words