seed
n. countablen. the small part of a plant that can grow into a new plant. You plant it in the ground and give it water to help it start growing.
n. the unit of reproduction of a flowering plant, capable of developing into another such plant. In a sporting context, it refers to a competitor or team ranked according to their relative strength in a tournament.
I planted a sunflower seed in a small pot.
The farmer saved the best seed from this year's harvest to ensure a high-quality crop next spring.
While the outer shell of the seed protects the embryo during dormancy, it must eventually crack to allow the internal nutrients to fuel the first stages of germination.
Often used metaphorically to describe the beginning of an idea or feeling, such as 'the seeds of doubt'.