ovipositor
noun
ovi·pos·i·tor ˈō-və-ˌpä-zə-tər 
ˌō-və-ˈpä-
: a specialized organ (as of an insect) for depositing eggs see insect illustration
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Depending on the species of dragonfly, females deposit eggs directly into ponds, streams, or other bodies of water, or inject their eggs into plants growing in or near water with an organ called an ovipositor, said Mass Audubon. 
Don Lyman, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 But female cicadas lay their eggs in twigs and small branches after cutting grooves in them with a sharp organ called an ovipositor on its abdomen. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2021 Females lay their eggs After male and female cicadas hook up, the females slice into small tree branches using their ovipositor—a saw-like organ—and lay nests of 20 to 30 eggs at a time. Rebecca Katzman, Time, 12 May 2021 The wasp grabs hold of the caterpillar and drives its ovipositor into the squishy body, injecting a single egg. Matt Simon, Wired, 9 Nov. 2020 Anna Ward for The Forbes Lab, The University of IowaTo deposit its eggs, the parasitic oak gall wasp pierces a leaf or stem with its ovipositor, a long tubelike organ that would be a stinger if this wasp were the kind that stings. Joanna Klein, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2019 These wasps lay their eggs inside their host using organs known as ovipositors, which are shaped like tubes. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2018 Parasitoid wasps like the Clistopyga crassicaudata typically have a long ovipositor to lay eggs that is also used as a stinger. Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 8 July 2018 Research already demonstrates that the differences in ovipositor length and body size in the yucca moths’ genomes are more pronounced, suggesting that natural selection has driven the discrepancy. Sam Schipani, Smithsonian, 10 Aug. 2017 See More
Don Lyman, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 But female cicadas lay their eggs in twigs and small branches after cutting grooves in them with a sharp organ called an ovipositor on its abdomen. Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2021 Females lay their eggs After male and female cicadas hook up, the females slice into small tree branches using their ovipositor—a saw-like organ—and lay nests of 20 to 30 eggs at a time. Rebecca Katzman, Time, 12 May 2021 The wasp grabs hold of the caterpillar and drives its ovipositor into the squishy body, injecting a single egg. Matt Simon, Wired, 9 Nov. 2020 Anna Ward for The Forbes Lab, The University of IowaTo deposit its eggs, the parasitic oak gall wasp pierces a leaf or stem with its ovipositor, a long tubelike organ that would be a stinger if this wasp were the kind that stings. Joanna Klein, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2019 These wasps lay their eggs inside their host using organs known as ovipositors, which are shaped like tubes. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2018 Parasitoid wasps like the Clistopyga crassicaudata typically have a long ovipositor to lay eggs that is also used as a stinger. Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 8 July 2018 Research already demonstrates that the differences in ovipositor length and body size in the yucca moths’ genomes are more pronounced, suggesting that natural selection has driven the discrepancy. Sam Schipani, Smithsonian, 10 Aug. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin ov- + positor one that places, from ponere to place — more at position
First Known Use
1815, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
ovipositor
noun
ovi·pos·i·tor ˈō-və-ˌpäz-ət-ər, ˌō-və-ˈ
: a specialized organ (as of an insect) for depositing eggs
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