2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ovum  \O"vum\,  n.;  pl  L.  {Ova},  E.  {Ovums}.  [L.,  an  egg.  See 
  {Oval}.] 
  1.  (Biol.)  A  more  or  less  spherical  and  transparent  mass  of 
  granular  protoplasm,  which  by  a  process  of  multiplication 
  and  growth  develops  into  a  mass  of  cells,  constituting  a 
  new  individual  like  the  parent;  an  egg,  spore,  germ,  or 
  germ  cell.  See  Illust.  of  {Mycropyle}. 
 
  Note:  The  ovum  is  a  typical  cell,  with  a  cell  wall,  cell 
  substance,  nucleus,  and  nucleolus.  In  man  and  the 
  higher  animals  the  cell  wall,  a  vertically  striated 
  membrane,  is  called  the  zona  pellucida;  the  cell 
  contents,  the  vitellus;  the  nucleus,  the  germinal 
  vesicle;  and  the  nucleolus,  the  germinal  spot.  The 
  diameter  of  the  ripe  ovum  in  man  and  the  domestic 
  animals  varies  between  1-200  and  1-120  of  an  inch. 
 
  2.  (Arch.)  One  of  the  series  of  egg-shaped  ornaments  into 
  which  the  ovolo  is  often  carved.  --Gwilt. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ovum 
  n  :  the  female  reproductive  cell;  the  female  gamete  [syn:  {egg 
  cell}] 

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