Seeds vs. Pits — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on December 8, 2023
Seeds are embryonic plants enclosed in a protective outer covering. Pits are large, hard seeds within certain fruits. Both serve as reproductive units but vary in size and structure.
Difference Between Seeds and Pits
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Seeds are found in various plants and are essentially the embryo of the plant, possessing the potential to grow into a new organism. Pits, on the other hand, are the hard seeds found in certain fruits like cherries, peaches, and plums. Both seeds and pits are essential for the propagation of plants, but they have distinct characteristics.
Seeds come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Some seeds are minute, while others are large, but they generally have a softer exterior. Pits are typically larger and have a hard, often woody, exterior which provides protection to the inner seed. When talking about both seeds and pits, one can observe that while all pits are seeds, not all seeds are pits.
Seeds often have mechanisms that aid in their dispersal. This can include wings for wind dispersal, barbs for animal fur, or being edible so animals eat them and later excrete them elsewhere. Pits, given their larger size and hard exterior, rely mostly on animals consuming the fruit and later dispersing the pit in a new location. So, both seeds and pits have evolutionary strategies for propagation, but their methods differ.
In agriculture and gardening, seeds are often sown to produce plants. They might come in packets and are selected for their specific traits. Pits, due to their hard exterior, may require specific conditions or treatments, like stratification, to germinate. Hence, while both seeds and pits serve the primary function of reproduction, their usage and treatment can be quite different.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Embryonic plant enclosed in a protective cover.
Large, hard seed of certain fruits.
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Size & Texture
Vary in size, usually with softer exteriors.
Larger with a hard, often woody, exterior.
Dispersal Mechanism
Various methods including wind and animals.
Mostly through animals consuming the fruit.
Germination
Often direct; may need specific conditions.
Might require treatments like stratification.
Universality
Found in various plants across many species.
Specific to certain fruits.
Compare with Definitions
Seeds
A plant's unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another plant.
She planted the sunflower seeds in her backyard.
Pits
A large, hard seed inside certain fruits.
Be careful when eating cherries; don't swallow the pit.
Seeds
A mature plant ovule containing an embryo.
Pits
A place where workers conduct specific activities.
The mechanics worked in the pit during the car race.
Seeds
A small dry fruit, spore, or other propagative plant part.
Pits
A natural or artificial hole or cavity in the ground.
Seeds
Seeds considered as a group
A farmer buying seed.
Pits
An excavation for the removal of mineral deposits; a mine.
Seeds
The seed-bearing stage of a plant
The grass is in seed.
Pits
The shaft of a mine.
Seeds
A larval shellfish or a hatchling fish
Released scallop seed in the bay.
Pits
A concealed hole in the ground used as a trap; a pitfall.
Seeds
An egg or cocoon of certain insects
Silkworm seed.
Pits
A small indentation in a surface
Pits in a windshield.
Seeds
A tiny bubble in a piece of glass.
Pits
A natural hollow or depression in the body or an organ.
Seeds
(Medicine) A form of a radioactive isotope that is used to localize and concentrate the amount of radiation administered to a body site, such as a tumor.
Pits
A small indented scar left in the skin by smallpox or other eruptive disease; a pockmark.
Seeds
A source or beginning; a germ
The seed of an idea.
Pits
(Zoology) Either of a pair of depressions between the nostril and the eye of a pit viper that contain heat-sensing organs.
Seeds
A small amount of material used to start a chemical reaction.
Pits
(Botany) A cavity in the wall of a plant cell where there is no secondary wall, as in fibers, tracheids, and vessel elements.
Seeds
A small crystal used to start a crystallization process.
Pits
(Informal) An armpit.
Seeds
A cell that disperses, especially a cancer cell that spreads from a primary tumor to another location in the body.
Pits
An enclosed, usually sunken area in which animals, such as dogs or gamecocks, are placed for fighting.
Seeds
Offspring; progeny.
Pits
The section directly in front of and below the stage of a theater, in which the musicians sit.
Seeds
Family stock; ancestry.
Pits
Chiefly British The ground floor of a theater behind the stalls.
Seeds
Sperm; semen.
Pits
The section of an exchange where trading in a specific commodity is carried on.
Seeds
(Sports) A player who has been seeded for a tournament, often at a given rank
A top seed.
Pits
The gambling area of a casino.
Seeds
To plant seeds in (land, for example); sow.
Pits
A sunken area in a garage floor from which mechanics may work on cars.
Seeds
To plant (a crop, for example) as seeds in soil.
Pits
Often pits(Sports) An area beside an auto racecourse where cars may be refueled or serviced during a race
Pulled into the pits to have the tires rotated.
Seeds
To remove the seeds from (fruit).
Pits
Hell. Used with the.
Seeds
To furnish with something that grows or stimulates growth or development
A bioreactor seeded with bacteria.
Pits
A miserable or depressing place or situation.
Seeds
To disperse to, as cancer cells
Organs seeded by circulating tumor cells.
Pits
Pits(Slang) The worst. Used with the
"New York politics are the pits" (Washington Star).
Seeds
To disperse or transfer (cancer cells, for example)
A needle biopsy that seeded cancer cells into adjacent tissue.
Seed stem cells onto collagen gels.
Pits
(Football) The middle areas of the defensive and offensive lines.
Seeds
(Meteorology) To sprinkle (a cloud) with particles, as of silver iodide, in order to disperse it or to produce precipitation.
Pits
The single central kernel or stone of certain fruits, such as a peach or cherry.
Seeds
To arrange (the drawing for positions in a tournament) so that the more skilled contestants meet in the later rounds.
Pits
To mark with cavities, depressions, or scars
A surface pitted with craters.
Seeds
To rank (a contestant) in this way.
Pits
To set in direct opposition or competition
A war that pitted brother against brother.
Seeds
To help (a business, for example) in its early development.
Pits
To place, bury, or store in a pit.
Seeds
To sow seed.
Pits
To become marked with pits.
Seeds
To pass into the seed-bearing stage.
Pits
To retain an impression after being indented. Used of the skin.
Seeds
(Medicine) To disperse and often multiply, as cancer cells.
Pits
To stop at a refueling area during an auto race.
Seeds
Set aside for planting a new crop
Seed corn.
Seed potatoes.
Pits
To extract the pit from (a fruit).
Seeds
Intended to help in early stages
Provided seed capital for a fledgling business.
Pits
Plural of pit
John works in the pits.
Seeds
Plural of seed
Pits
The worst possible situation, person, or thing; something extremely bad, boring, or depressing; - always used with the; as, cleaning the house is the pits.
Seeds
Infl of seed
Pits
A hole or depression in the ground.
The archaeologists discovered an ancient fire pit.
Seeds
A starting point for growth or development.
His small investment was the seed for a vast empire.
Pits
A part of a theater or arena for standing spectators.
The fans in the pit were excitedly waiting for the band.
Seeds
A tiny piece of a substance.
The seed of a pomegranate can be eaten.
Pits
To remove the stone or seed from a fruit.
She pitted the cherries before making the pie.
Seeds
The origin or mainstay of a thought or action.
Doubt was the seed of his decision to investigate further.
Seeds
A player's ranking in a tournament.
She was the top seed in the tennis championship.
Common Curiosities
Are all pits considered seeds?
Yes, all pits are seeds, but not all seeds are pits.
Can you consume all seeds and pits?
While many seeds are edible, not all are. Some pits can be toxic and should not be consumed.
How do gardeners use seeds?
Gardeners often sow seeds to produce new plants.
How do seeds differ from pits in texture?
Seeds often have softer exteriors, while pits have a harder, often woody exterior.
How do plants disperse their seeds?
Plants use various mechanisms like wind, water, and animals to disperse seeds.
Why might some pits require special treatments to germinate?
The hard exterior of pits may require specific conditions or treatments to break dormancy and start germination.
What are seeds in plants?
Seeds are embryonic plants enclosed in a protective cover, capable of developing into a full-grown plant.
How do fruits containing pits ensure their propagation?
Fruits with pits usually rely on animals consuming the fruit and then dispersing the pit.
What's the seed of a concept or idea?
It refers to the origin or starting point of a thought or action.
Do all plants produce seeds?
No, not all plants reproduce via seeds; some reproduce through spores or vegetative means.
Can the term 'pit' also mean a hole or depression?
Yes, 'pit' can refer to a hole or depression in the ground, such as a quarry or mining pit.
What's the primary function of a pit in a fruit?
The primary function of a pit is to protect the inner seed and aid in the fruit's reproductive process.
Can seeds be a source of nutrition?
Yes, many seeds, like chia, flax, and sunflower seeds, are nutritious and consumed as food.
How do pits contribute to the ecosystem?
Pits, when dispersed by animals, contribute to plant diversity and the spread of certain plant species.
How is the term 'pit' used in reference to a theater?
In theaters, the 'pit' can refer to a section for standing spectators or the area for the orchestra.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
