Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
parthenogenesis
parˊthe-no-gen′e-sis
(pärˊthē̍-nō̍-jĕn′ē̍-sĭs)
, Noun.
[Gr.
παρθένοσ
a virgin + E. genesis
.] 1.
(Biol.)
The production of new individuals from virgin females by means of ova which have the power of developing without the intervention of the male element; the production, without fertilization, of cells capable of germination. It is one of the phenomena of alternate generation. Cf.
Heterogamy
, and Metagenesis
. 2.
(Bot.)
The production of seed without fertilization, believed to occur through the nonsexual formation of an embryo extraneous to the embryonic vesicle.