: characterized by incomplete cleavage as a result of the presence of a mass of yolk material compare holoblastic

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French méroblastique, from méro- mero- + -blastique -blastic

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meroblastic was in 1864

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meroblastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meroblastic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

meroblastic

adjective
: characterized by or being incomplete cleavage as a result of the presence of an impeding mass of yolk material (as in the eggs of birds) compare holoblastic
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!