Gestation Meaning
/d͡ʒɛsˈteɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe period of time during which an animal or human offspring physically develops inside the mother's body until it is born.
nounThe process of development of a plan or idea.
Sentence Examples
The gestation period of an elephant is almost two years.
The gestation period of a rhino is about 16 months.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The typical ____ period for female elephants is about 22 months.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ period for an African elephant can last for up to 22 months, which is the longest in mammals.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Latin gestāre Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin gestātiōlbor. English gestation Learned borrowing from Latin gestātiō.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It was to a conversation with another friend who had for many years been familiar with all my writings during the period of their gestation, just as I had been with his."
— 1900, Sigmund Freud, translated by James Strachey, The Interpretation of Dreams: Avon Books, page 149:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The typical ____ period for female elephants is about 22 months.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ period for an African elephant can last for up to 22 months, which is the longest in mammals.