placenta

pla·cen·ta

noun \plə-ˈsen-tə\

plural pla·centas or pla·cen·tae\-ˈsen-(ˌ)tē\

Definition of PLACENTA

1

: the vascular organ in mammals except monotremes and marsupials that unites the fetus to the maternal uterus and mediates its metabolic exchanges through a more or less intimate association of uterine mucosal with chorionic and usually allantoic tissues; also : an analogous organ in another animal

2

: a sporangium-bearing surface; especially : the part of the carpel bearing ovules

Origin of PLACENTA

New Latin, from Latin, flat cake, from Greek plakoenta, accusative of plakoeis, from plak-, plax flat surface — more at fluke

First Known Use: 1691

Rhymes with PLACENTA

magenta, polenta, Polenta