gestation
Gestation (noun) means the period during which an unborn baby or animal develops inside the mother before birth. Example: “Human gestation lasts about nine months.”
How to use gestation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe time a baby (or an idea) spends developing before it "arrives."
Word forms
gestations plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Human _____ lasts about nine months.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin gestatio, related to gestare, "to carry" — the same idea as physically carrying a child.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gestation
Frequently asked questions
What does “gestation” mean?
The word “gestation” means the period during which an unborn baby or animal develops inside the mother before birth. In plain terms, the time a baby (or an idea) spends developing before it "arrives.".
How do you pronounce “gestation”?
“Gestation” is pronounced jehs-TAY-shuhn (/d͡ʒɛsˈteɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “gestation” in a sentence?
Here is “gestation” used in a sentence: “Human gestation lasts about nine months.”
What is another word for “gestation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gestation” include pregnancy.
What part of speech is “gestation”?
“Gestation” is a noun.
Where does the word “gestation” come from?
The word “gestation” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin gestatio, related to gestare, "to carry" — the same idea as physically carrying a child.
How many meanings does “gestation” have?
“Gestation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the period during which an unborn baby or animal develops inside the mother before birth.