ovulation

noun

ovu·​la·​tion ˌä vyə-ˈlā-shən  ˌō- 

: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary

Doctors have found that a few days before ovulation, as many as 30 to 50 egg follicles have begun to mature. Normally, only one will fully ripen … and the rest are lost.

—Mary Duenwald

In principle, ovulation takes place midway through a 28-day … cycle.

—Judith N. Schwartz

Examples of ovulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While estrogen drops around ovulation, too, the decline is not as rapid, which might explain why migraines aren’t as common at this time. —Lori Youmshajekian, WIRED, 23 Sep. 2024

Most of those work by either thickening the cervical mucus so sperm can't get to the uterus or stopping ovulation or making it so the sperm can't swim. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2024

By Loren Savini Beyond cost though, going through the process of IVF, undergoing the ovulation and induction process multiple times, can be extremely taxing on someone’s body. —Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 13 Sep. 2024

During perimenopause, ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) may not occur every month. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

ovule or its source, Medieval Latin ōvulum + -ation

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

ovulation

noun

ovu·​la·​tion ˌäv-yə-ˈlā-shən 

also

ˌōv- 

: the discharge of a mature ovum from the ovary

The persistent high level of estrogen induces an abrupt release of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland, and this hormonal surge then triggers ovulation.

—Hsiu-Wei Su et al., Bioengineering & Translational Medicine