noun
dicotyledon
dy-kot-uh-LEE-dun
Dicotyledon (noun) means a dicotyledon is a flowering plant whose seedling grows with two seed leaves. Example: “Beans and sunflowers are both dicotyledons.”
noun
1
botany A dicotyledon is a flowering plant whose seedling grows with two seed leaves.
"Beans and sunflowers are both dicotyledons."
"The seedling's two opening leaves showed it was a dicotyledon."
"Dicotyledons and monocotyledons together make up the flowering plants, the angiosperms."
How to use dicotyledon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dicotyledon is a plant that sprouts with a pair of seed leaves.
When to use it
It is a technical botanical term, mostly used in scientific and educational writing.
Memory tip
The prefix di- for two is the easiest way to remember it contrasts with monocotyledon's one seed leaf.
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Easily confused with
Common pairings
dicotyledon seedling
dicotyledon plant
classify as a dicotyledon
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Etymology
Dicotyledon combines the prefix di-, meaning two, with cotyledon, the word for an embryonic seed leaf.
Synonyms
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dicot
exogen
magnoliopsid
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dicotyledon
See all rhymes for dicotyledon →Frequently asked questions
What is a dicotyledon in simple terms?
It is a flowering plant that starts life with two seed leaves rather than one.
What is the difference between a dicotyledon and a monocotyledon?
A dicotyledon's seedling has two seed leaves, while a monocotyledon's seedling has only one.
Is dicot the same as dicotyledon?
Yes, dicot is simply the shortened form of dicotyledon.
What is the meaning of dicotyledon?
"dicotyledon" (noun) means a dicotyledon is a flowering plant whose seedling grows with two seed leaves.
