ovary

Imagine a small but important organ inside the female body. An ovary is one of the two organs that make and release eggs for reproduction. It also makes hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which help control the menstrual cycle and support many parts of growth and health. In everyday English, this is by far the most common meaning of the word.

You may also see the word in biology when people talk about animals in general, not only humans. The basic idea stays the same: it is the part of the reproductive system where eggs are produced.

The ovary is a key part of the female reproductive system in humans and many other animals. It is the organ where eggs are made, and it also produces hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. In humans, there are usually two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. During the reproductive years, the ovaries take part in the menstrual cycle, and they usually release an egg about once a month. This process is called ovulation.

The word also has a clear meaning in botany. In a flowering plant, the ovary is the part of the flower that contains the ovules. After fertilization, this part often grows into the fruit, while the ovules become seeds. So in both animals and plants, the word points to a part that holds or produces the structures needed for reproduction.

Sometimes people use "ovaries" in an informal, joking, or bold way to talk about courage, as in a phrase like "ovaries of steel." That use exists, but it is much less common than the biological meaning. In almost all contexts, "ovary" refers to an organ in an animal body or a structure in a flower.