amyloplast: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “amyloplast” mean?
A colourless organelle found in plant cells that stores and synthesises starch.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A colourless organelle found in plant cells that stores and synthesises starch.
A specialised type of plastid responsible for starch synthesis and storage, contributing to the plant's energy management and gravity sensing in root caps (statoliths).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard UK/US conventions for scientific terminology.
Connotations
Neutral, purely technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US academic/professional contexts, confined to relevant scientific disciplines.
Grammar
How to Use “amyloplast” in a Sentence
The [cell/organ/tissue] contains amyloplasts.Amyloplasts [develop/sediment/accumulate starch].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amyloplast” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The amyloplast membranes were examined.
American English
- The amyloplast structure is key to the study.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in plant biology and botany textbooks/research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Essential term in plant physiology, cell biology, and agronomy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amyloplast”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amyloplast”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amyloplast”
- Mispronouncing as 'amylo-plast' with equal stress; primary stress is on 'am' (/ˈæmɪ-/).
- Confusing it with 'amylase' (the enzyme).
- Using it as a general term for starch.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A starch grain is the starch granule itself. An amyloplast is the entire organelle (with its membrane and internal structures) that contains and produces the starch grains.
In some plant tissues, plastids can interconvert. For example, an amyloplast in a potato tuber could potentially develop into a chloroplast if exposed to light, though this is not its primary developmental pathway.
They are abundant in storage organs like potato tubers, seeds (e.g., in cereal endosperm), and in the root cap where they function as statoliths for gravity sensing.
No. Amyloplasts are specific to plant cells. Animals store energy as glycogen in the liver and muscles, not as starch in plastids.
A colourless organelle found in plant cells that stores and synthesises starch.
Amyloplast is usually technical / scientific in register.
Amyloplast: in British English it is pronounced /ˈamɪlə(ʊ)plast/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæmɪloʊˌplæst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: AMYLO (like amylose, a starch component) + PLAST (like plastid). So, a 'starch-plastid'.
Conceptual Metaphor
STORAGE CONTAINER / GRANARY (within the cell).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an amyloplast?