womb

[ woom ]

noun

1. the uterus of the human female and certain higher mammals.
2. the place in which anything is formed or produced:

   the womb of time.

3. the interior of anything.
4. Obsolete. the belly.

womb

/ wuːm /

noun

1. the nontechnical name for uterus uterine
2. a hollow space enclosing something, esp when dark, warm, or sheltering
3. a place where something is conceived

   the Near East is the womb of western civilization

4. obsolete.
   the belly

womb

/ wo̅o̅m /

1. See uterus

Derived Forms

• ˈwomblike, adjective
• wombed, adjective

Other Words From

• wombed adjective
• un·womb verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of womb¹

before 900; Middle English, Old English: belly, womb; cognate with Dutch wam, German Wamme, Gothic wamba belly; wamus

Word History and Origins

Origin of womb¹

Old English wamb; related to Old Norse vomb, Gothic wamba, Middle Low German wamme, Swedish våmm

Example Sentences

This illustration shows that male animals exposed to THC in the womb experience a greater surge in the "reward-seeking" brain chemical dopamine when exposed to opioid drugs as adolescents compared to those that were never exposed to THC.

From Science Daily

When THC-exposed animals reached early adulthood, they were more likely to show enhanced opioid-seeking and were more likely to relapse upon opioid-associated environmental cues compared to those animals who were not exposed to THC in the womb.

From Science Daily

The two are working with a team of researchers to investigate the enduring effects of drug and alcohol exposure in the womb.

From Science Daily

This is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.

From BBC

The fertilised egg is then returned to the woman's womb to develop.

From BBC

Related Words

• belly
• entrails
• innards