Gestate: meaning, definitions and examples
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gestate
[ dΚΙΛsteΙͺt ]
biological process
To gestate means to carry and develop offspring in the womb over a period of time. This biological process typically involves the growth of a fetus until it is ready to be born. Gestation is a critical phase in the reproductive cycle of mammals.
Synonyms
carry, conceive, develop, foster
Examples of usage
- Humans gestate for about nine months.
- The duration of gestation varies among different species.
- She will gestate a new life in her womb.
- The animal gestated three cubs.
- Researchers studied how stress affects the gestation period.
Word origin
The term 'gestate' originates from the Latin word 'gestare', which means 'to carry' or 'to bear'. It is derived from 'gestus', the past participle of 'gerere', meaning 'to bear or carry'. In biological terms, the word has been used since the late 19th century to refer specifically to the period during which a fetus develops inside the womb of a mammal. The application of the term has also broadened in modern usage to describe the process of developing ideas or projects, paralleling the concept of nurturing and bringing something to fruition.