gestation

/dʤes'teiʃn/

Thân thiện

A mother gently touches her belly during gestation.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth: This is the primary biological meaning, referring to the period of pregnancy in mammals.
   • The development of something over a period of time: This figurative meaning refers to the process of forming and developing an idea or plan before it is realized.

Usage and Examples

• Biological Meaning (Pregnancy):
  • The gestation period for an elephant is nearly two years.
  • Human gestation typically lasts about 40 weeks.
• Figurative Meaning (Development of an Idea):
  • The novel had a long gestation; the author worked on the idea for a decade.
  • The project is still in its gestation phase and not ready for public announcement.

Advanced Usage

• "Period of gestation": A common phrase specifying the length of time for development.
  • The period of gestation varies greatly among different animal species.
• "In gestation": Used to describe something that is currently being developed.
  • Several new policies are currently in gestation within the committee.

Variants and Related Words

• Gestate (verb): To carry in the womb during pregnancy, or to develop an idea.
  • She is gestating her first child.
  • He gestated the concept for many months before writing the proposal.
• Gestational (adjective): Relating to gestation.
  • Gestational diabetes is a condition that can develop during pregnancy.

Synonyms

• Pregnancy: The condition of having a developing embryo or fetus in the body (specifically for the biological sense).
• Incubation: The process of developing or hatching, often used figuratively for ideas (e.g., ).
• Development: The process of growing or causing to grow and become more advanced (a more general synonym for the figurative sense).

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "The gestation period of an idea": The time it takes for a thought or plan to fully form.
  • The gestation period of this revolutionary invention was filled with trial and error.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the conception and development of an idea or plan
2. the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
3. the period during which an embryo develops (about 266 days in humans)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pregnancy
• maternity
• gestation period