anther: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “anther” mean?
The part of a flower's stamen that produces and contains pollen.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The part of a flower's stamen that produces and contains pollen.
In botanical contexts, any structure functionally analogous to an anther, such as in certain fungi or mosses, though this is rare and technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning, usage, or spelling. Standard botanical term in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral, purely technical term.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to biology/botany contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “anther” in a Sentence
The anther [VERB] (e.g., contains, releases, dehisces, produces) pollen.Pollen is produced in the anther.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anther” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- antheral (very rare technical adjective)
American English
- antheral (very rare technical adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology, botany, horticulture, and agriculture texts and lectures.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of educational or gardening discussions.
Technical
Standard, precise term in plant morphology and reproductive biology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anther”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anther”
- Misspelling as 'anther' (an error for 'another') or 'antena'.
- Using it to refer to any part of a plant, not specifically the pollen-bearing part of the stamen.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are false friends. 'Anther' comes from Latin/Greek for 'flower', while 'another' is from 'an other'.
Most, but not all. Flowers that are purely female (pistillate) lack stamens and therefore have no anthers.
The stamen is the entire male reproductive organ, consisting of the filament (stalk) and the anther (pollen-bearing tip).
No, it is a specialized botanical term. Most people encounter it only in biology classes or while gardening.
The part of a flower's stamen that produces and contains pollen.
Anther is usually technical/scientific in register.
Anther: in British English it is pronounced /ˈænθə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænθɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ANTher contains the ANThills of pollen.
Conceptual Metaphor
Pollen factory / storage unit.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an anther?