caryopsis
noun
cary·op·sis
ˌker-ē-ˈäp-səs 
ˌka-rē-
plural caryopses
ˌker-ē-ˈäp-ˌsēz
ˌka-rē-
also caryopsides
ˌker-ē-ˈäp-sə-ˌdēz
ˌka-rē-
: a small one-seeded dry indehiscent fruit (as of corn or wheat) in which the fruit and seed fuse in a single grain
Examples of caryopsis in a Sentence
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But in corn's case, each kernel is what's called a caryopsis, basically a type of dry fruit where the ovary wall and the seed coat are fused into one layer.
—
Caroline Picard,
Good Housekeeping,
7 Dec. 2018
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Caroline Picard,
Good Housekeeping,
7 Dec. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Caryopsis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caryopsis. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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