Definition of gestation
1 : the carrying of young in the uterus (see uterus 1) : pregnancy
2 : conception (see conception 3) and development especially in the mind
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of gestation in a Sentence
the gestation of new ideas
The book has been in gestation for a long time.
Recent Examples of gestation from the Web
-
Newborn calves, born after a 15-month gestation period, weigh between 73 and 121 pounds.
-
After fertilization and a gestation period of about 22 days, mother mice can have anywhere from three to six babies.
-
Babies as young as 22 weeks' gestation, which just a few decades ago might not have had any hope, are regularly given a chance at life.
-
One week ago, after a long and contentious gestation period, lawmakers in Olympia finally birthed their plan to fully fund K-12 education.
-
Four decades is a long gestation period by anyone's definition, but the result was worth the wait.
-
Although SIDS deaths are sudden, a latent vulnerability may be present for days or months prior to death, the researchers of the PNAS study wrote, and may even originate during gestation.
-
The preterm birthrate — babies born before 37 weeks of gestation — increased to 9.84 percent from 9.63 percent in 2015.
-
A Tennessee law will require doctors to determine the viability of fetuses of at least 20 weeks of gestation, making it a felony to abort a viable fetus unless the pregnancy puts a woman at risk of death or serious injury.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gestation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of gestation
Latin gestation-, gestatio, from gestare to bear, frequentative of gerere to bear
Other Embryology Terms
GESTATION Defined for English Language Learners
gestation
playDefinition of gestation for English Language Learners
-
: the time when a person or animal is developing inside its mother before it is born; also : the process of development that happens during this time
-
: the process by which something (such as an idea) forms and develops
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about gestation
-
See words that rhyme with gestation Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gestation Spanish Central: Translation of gestation Nglish: Translation of gestation for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gestation for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gestation
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up gestation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!