ovum

 
Pronunciation: /ˈəʊvəm/

noun (plural ova /ˈəʊvə/)

Biology
  • a mature female reproductive cell, especially of a human or other animal, which can divide to give rise to an embryo usually only after fertilization by a male cell: the ovum contributes one chromosome of each pair to the fertilized cell

Origin:

early 18th century: from Latin, literally 'egg'