von Baer's law

noun

vä|nˈba(a)(ə)rz-,

fə|,

və|,

-be(ə)rz-

: a principle in biology: the development of an organism proceeds from the general to the special and embryos belonging to various classes closely resemble one another in their earlier stages but diverge more and more as development proceeds compare recapitulation theory

Word History

Etymology

after Karl E. von Baer †1876 Estonian embryologist

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!