Rād′i-cle, n.

noun

(rād′ĭ-kl), n. [Lat. radicula, dim. of radix, radicis, root; Fr. radicule, It. radicula, radicella, radicetta.] (Bot.) The rudimentary stem of a plant which supports the cotyledons in the seed, and from which the root is developed downward; the stem of the embryo.

A botanical illustration of a germinating seed with its radicle extending downward and to the right. — Radicle.