n. [ Gr. &unr_; egg-bearing; w, 'o`n an egg + fe`rein to bear. ] (Bot.) An alternately produced form of certain cryptogamous plants, as ferns, mosses, and the like, which bears antheridia and archegonia, and so has sexual fructification, as contrasted with the sporophore, which is nonsexual, but produces spores in countless number. In ferns the oophore is a minute prothallus; in mosses it is the leafy plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. w, 'o`n egg + fe`rein to bear + &unr_; a cutting out. ] (Surg.) Ovariotomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Having the nature of, or belonging to, an oophore. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. L. Oophorida E. Oophoridiums [ NL., dim. fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Oophore. ] (Bot.) The macrosporangium or case for the larger kind of spores in heterosporous flowerless plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. w, 'o`n egg + fe`rein to bear + -itis. ] (Med.) Ovaritis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. w, 'o`n an egg + fyto`n a plant. ] (Bot.) Any plant of a proposed class or grand division (collectively termed oophytes or Oophyta), which have their sexual reproduction accomplished by motile antherozoids acting on oospheres, either while included in their oogonia or after exclusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This class was at first called Oosporeae, and is made to include all algae and fungi which have this kind of reproduction, however they may differ in all other respects, the contrasted classes of Thallophytes being Protophytes, Zygophytes, and Carpophytes. The whole system has its earnest advocates, but is rejected by many botanists. See Carpophyte. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to an oophyte. [ 1913 Webster ]