Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: ANIMALS

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: gestatio, from gestare 'to bear'

gestation

 noun
     
ges‧ta‧tion [singular, uncountable]
1 medicalHBAMB the process by which a child or young animal develops inside its mother's body before birth, or the period of time when this happens [↪ pregnancy]:
The gestation period of a horse is about 11 months.
2 formal the process by which a new idea, piece of work etc is developed, or the period of time when this happens [= development]
in gestation
The report was a very long time in gestation.
Definition of gestation from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic ANIMALS
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The ANIMALS
Word of the Day is:
domesticate

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