epiboly

[ ih-pib-uh-lee ]

noun

, Embryology.

, plural e·pib·o·lies.

1. the movement and spreading out of cells into sheets of tissue that overlie or surround other groups of cells, especially as in the formation of certain gastrulas.

epiboly

/ ˌɛpɪˈbɒlɪk; ɪˈpɪbəlɪ /

noun

1. embryol a process that occurs during gastrulation in vertebrates, in which cells on one side of the blastula grow over and surround the remaining cells and yolk and eventually form the ectoderm

Derived Forms

• epibolic, adjective

Other Words From

• ep·i·bol·ic [ep-, uh, -, bol, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epiboly¹

1870–75; < Greek epibolḗ a throwing on, equivalent to epi- epi- + bol- (variant stem of bállein to throw) + -ē noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of epiboly¹

C19: from Greek epibolē a laying on, from epiballein to throw on, from epi- + ballein to throw