embryo

2 synonyms and 3 antonyms for embryo, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — An organism in the earliest stage of development, before it is recognizably formed — in humans, roughly the first eight weeks after conception.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

conceptus fertilized egg

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

An organism in the earliest stage of development, before it is recognizably formed — in humans, roughly the first eight weeks after conception.

“The scan showed the embryo's heartbeat for the first time.”

conceptus fertilized egg

Opposites

maturity

2. noun

The very earliest stage of a plan, project, or idea, before it has properly developed.

“The proposal was still an embryo of an idea when it leaked to the press.”

Opposites

development completion

How to use embryo

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a developing embryo in embryo embryo research

Etymology

From Greek embryon, literally "that which grows within," from en- ("in") plus bryein ("to swell, grow").

Full origin of embryo →

Frequently asked questions

What does “embryo” mean?

The word “embryo” means an organism in the earliest stage of development, before it is recognizably formed — in humans, roughly the first eight weeks after conception. In plain terms, the earliest stage of a developing living thing — or, more loosely, the very first stage of an idea or plan.

How do you pronounce “embryo”?

“Embryo” is pronounced EHMB-ree-oh (/ˈɛmbɹi.oʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “embryo” in a sentence?

Here is “embryo” used in a sentence: “The scan showed the embryo's heartbeat for the first time.”

What part of speech is “embryo”?

“Embryo” is a noun.

Where does the word “embryo” come from?

The word “embryo” comes from Greek. From Greek embryon, literally "that which grows within," from en- ("in") plus bryein ("to swell, grow").

Is “embryo” a common word?

“Embryo” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “embryo” have?

“Embryo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an organism in the earliest stage of development, before it is recognizably formed — in humans, roughly the first eight weeks after conception.

Related words

fetus foetus zygote

People also searched

development completion maturity conceptus

Nearby words

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