rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygestationDevelopment before birth
noun

gestation

jeh-STAY-shun/dʒeˈsteɪʃn/

The development of offspring inside the body before birth.

During gestation, the baby grows inside the mother's womb.

Three successive profile studies of the same pregnant woman show the developing young inside her womb, progressing from a small embryo to a curled, near-term fetus.
Etymology
gestationLatina carrying

Latin gestatio meant carrying generally. In the reproductive sense, the carrying is of developing young in the womb, and the word names the period before birth.

In context

Great Documentaries13:38
After a gestation period of about 235 days, the cow delivers a 25 to 30 lb calf.
The Award-Winning Moose Documentary Everyone's Talking About

More examples

  • Elephants have a gestation period of about 22 months.
  • Good nutrition is important throughout gestation.
  • The veterinarian estimates that the dog is halfway through gestation.

Forms

gestation · gestations

gestational adjective — Relating to development inside the womb.

Similar words

pregnancy
Emphasizes the mother's condition rather than the offspring's development.