/oh"veuhm/ , n. , pl. ova /oh"veuh/ .
1. Cell Biol.
a. the female reproductive cell or gamete of animals, which is capable of developing, usually only after fertilization, into a new individual.
b. the female reproductive cell or gamete of plants.
2. Archit. an oval ornament, as in an egg-and-dart molding.
[ 1700-10; ovum EGG 1 ; c. Gk oión ]