Meaning & use
zygote
The single cell formed when a sperm cell and an egg cell fuse during fertilization.
See it in a sentence
Within hours of fertilization, the zygote begins dividing rapidly to form an embryo.
A zygote carries a complete set of chromosomes inherited from both biological parents.
A note on using this word
A zygote exists only briefly before it starts dividing; once it becomes a multicellular structure, biologists call it an embryo instead.
Words with a similar meaning
fertilized egg
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