1. A scar or mark on a seed where it was attached to the seed pod.
Usage: botany; commonly used in plant biology and agriculture
2. A depression or opening in an organ where blood vessels and nerves enter.
Usage: anatomy; technical/medical term

Examples

• The hilum of the bean seed is visible as a small dark spot on its surface.
• Students examined the hilum under a microscope to understand seed structure.
• The kidney's hilum is where the renal artery and vein connect.
• In anatomy class, we learned that the hilum is the entry point for the organ's blood supply.
• The hilum of a peanut shows where it was attached to the plant.
• Botanists use the hilum to identify and classify different seed types.