Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

morula

noun mor·u·la \ ˈmȯr-(y)ə-lə , ˈmär- \
|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of morula

plural morulae play \ˈmȯr-(y)ə-ˌlē, -ˌlī, ˈmär-\ also morulas
: a globular solid mass of blastomeres formed by cleavage of a zygote that typically precedes the blastula
—

morular

play \ˈmȯr-(y)ə-lər, ˈmär-\ adjective
—

morulation

play \ˌmȯr-(y)ə-ˈlā-shən, ˌmär-\ noun

Origin and Etymology of morula

borrowed from New Latin (in a German context), from Latin mōrum "black mulberry, blackberry" + New Latin -ula (as in gastrula, planula) — more at mulberry
Note: The term was introduced by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) in Die Kalkschwämme, Band 1 (Berlin, 1872), p. 112: "Der Organismus der Kalkschwämme bildet zunächst, nachdem er den monoplastiden Zustand der Eizelle durch die Befruchtung der letzeren überwunden und sich durch die vollbrachte 'Furchtung' des Eies von der ersten zur zweiten Individualitäts-Ordnung erhoben hat, die sogenannte 'Maulbeer-Form' oder 'Brombeer-Form,' welche wir ein für allemal als Morula bezeichnen wollen." ("After the calcareous-sponge organism goes beyond the undifferentiated condition of the egg cell through fertilization, and through completed 'cleavage' of the egg has risen from the first to the second rank of individuality, it forms at first the so-called 'mulberry-form' or 'blackberry-form,' which we will designate once and for all as the morula.")

Medical Dictionary

morula

noun mor·u·la \ ˈmȯr-(y)ə-lə, ˈmär- \

medical Definition of morula

plural morulae play \-ˌlē, -ˌlī\
: a globular solid mass of blastomeres formed by cleavage of a zygote that typically precedes the blastula — compare gastrula
—

morular

play \-lər\ adjective
—

morulation

play \ˌmȯr-(y)ə-ˈlā-shən, ˌmär-\ noun

Learn More about morula

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about morula

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up morula? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

quail

play

to recoil in dread or terror

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  2. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  3. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  4. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

  5. suborn 'to induce to commit perjury'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

morula

Test Your Vocabulary

Name More Food!

  • red-fruit
  • Name that Fruit!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games