ˈōvəm noun
( plural ova -və)
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, egg — more at egg
1. : a female gamete : macrogamete , egg cell :
a. : a mature egg that has undergone reduction, is ready for fertilization, and takes the form of a relatively large inactive gamete providing a comparatively great amount of reserve material and contributing most of the cytoplasm of the zygote — see oosphere ; compare centrolecithal , homolecithal , megalecithal , microlecithal , ovary , telolecithal
b. : an immature ovum (as an oocyte or oogonium)
c. : a fertilized ovum (as a zygote or embryo) — not used technically
2. : an architectural ornament shaped like an egg