locule: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / TechnicalScientific / Technical / Botanical
Quick answer
What does “locule” mean?
A small chamber or cavity within an organ or structure, especially in a plant ovary or anther.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small chamber or cavity within an organ or structure, especially in a plant ovary or anther.
In biology, any small, compartment-like space or cavity within a larger structure, such as in a fruit, sporangium, or animal organ.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, confined to specialist texts.
Grammar
How to Use “locule” in a Sentence
The ovary contains (number) locule(s).Seeds develop within a locule.A (adjective) loculeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “locule” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The bicarpellate ovary was bilocular, meaning it had two locules.
American English
- The multiloculed fruit structure was examined under the microscope.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in botany, biology, and plant morphology papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Standard term in botanical descriptions, plant anatomy, and related biological fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “locule”
- Misspelling as 'locul' or 'loculie'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'hole' or 'space'.
- Incorrect plural: 'locules' is correct, not 'loculi' (which is the plural of the related 'loculus').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized technical term used almost exclusively in botany and biology.
They are often used synonymously in biology. 'Loculus' is the Latin origin word, while 'locule' is its English derivative. 'Locule' is more common in botanical contexts.
Rarely. Its primary use is botanical, but it can be applied analogously to small cavities in fungal sporangia or certain animal structures in technical descriptions.
The standard English plural is 'locules'. 'Loculi' is the plural of 'loculus'.
A small chamber or cavity within an organ or structure, especially in a plant ovary or anther.
Locule is usually scientific / technical / botanical in register.
Locule: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɒkjuːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɑːkjuːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A - No idioms exist for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LOCU' as in 'location' or 'locus' (a place) and '-LE' as a small thing. A 'locule' is a small place or chamber within something.
Conceptual Metaphor
A room within a house (the organ).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'locule' most commonly used?