angiosperm
1 synonym and 1 antonym for angiosperm, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A flowering plant whose seeds develop inside an enclosed ovary.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
flowering plant
Antonyms
gymnosperm
How to use angiosperm
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
angiosperm species
early angiosperms
angiosperm evolution
This is a botanical term, mostly used in scientific or academic writing rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
The word comes from Ancient Greek, joining a term for a receptacle or vessel with a term for seed. Together the parts describe a seed held inside a case, which is exactly how an angiosperm's seed sits inside its ovary.
Full origin of angiosperm →Frequently asked questions
What is an angiosperm?
An angiosperm is a flowering plant, one whose seeds grow protected inside an ovary rather than sitting exposed.
What makes a plant an angiosperm?
A plant counts as an angiosperm if its ovules, and later its seeds, are enclosed within an ovary rather than left uncovered.
What is the difference between an angiosperm and a gymnosperm?
An angiosperm encloses its seeds inside an ovary, while a gymnosperm's seeds are not enclosed in this way.
