gestation

American  

[je-stey-shuhn] / dʒɛˈsteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the process, state, or period of gestating.

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gestation British  

/ ˈdʒɛstətɪv, dʒɛˈsteɪ-, dʒɛˈsteɪʃən /

noun

1. 1. the development of the embryo of a viviparous mammal, between conception and birth: about 266 days in humans, 624 days in elephants, and 63 days in cats

   2. ( as modifier )

      gestation period

2. the development of an idea or plan in the mind

3. the period of such a development

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gestation Scientific  

/ jĕ-stā′shən /

1. The period of time spent in the uterus between conception and birth. Gestation in humans is about nine months.

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Other Word Forms

• gestational adjective
• gestative adjective
• gestatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of gestation

1525–35; < Latin gestātiōn- (stem of gestātiō ), equivalent to gestāt ( us ) ( gestate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

This change was made permanent in 2022, so women can take pills at home for gestation of up to nine weeks and six days.

From BBC

The company says its product, which works solely with bovine breath samples, has detected gestation with 94% accuracy in lab tests.

From The Wall Street Journal

Was the gestation period so long that Hawke and Kaplow, the movie’s other Oscar nominee this year, occasionally wondered, “Will this ever happen?”

From Los Angeles Times

Female maned wolves are only fertile for approximately five days a year, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo, and have a gestation period of 65 days.

From BBC

RSV immunizations are recommended for everyone age 75 and up, babies younger than 8 months, and pregnant women between 32 weeks to 36 weeks of gestation.

From Los Angeles Times